New Gazette reverses previous wage hike for estate workers

The Ministry of Labour has issued a new Gazette notification that cancels the previously issued directive to increase the daily minimum wage of estate workers in the tea and rubber industries to Rs. 1,700. 

The latest notification mandates that payments be processed through the Wages Board, marking a reversal from the previous decision.

In May of this year, a Gazette had set the minimum daily wage for plantation workers at Rs. 1,350, supplemented by an allowance of Rs. 300 and an additional allowance of Rs. 80. 

However, this wage hike faced legal challenges in July, when 21 plantation companies, including Agarapatana Plantations Ltd., filed a court case seeking to nullify the Gazette notification.

In response, the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka issued an interim injunction, temporarily halting the implementation of the wage increase for estate sector workers.