News
Estate workers feel ‘déjà vu’ about budget bounties
View(s):By Sajeniya Sathanandan
This year’s budget for the estate workers being almost similar to last year’s budget proposal which went unimplemented has prompted trade unions and workers to express displeasure and mistrust about the proposal.
The difference between last year’s budget proposal and this year’s is that there has been an increase of Rs 50.
Unions have expressed their concerns regarding the proposal as the 2025 budget too said the wages will be increased and would be supported by the government, but this was not implemented.
Their current wage is insufficient to cover expenses, unions say. Pix by Palitha Ariyawansa
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake presenting the 2026 budget proposals on Friday said ‘It is our position that estate workers should be paid a fair daily wage commensurate with their service.’
He said that it is proposed to increase the current minimum daily wage from Rs. 1,350 to Rs. 1,550 from January 2026. He also said that in addition to the salary of Rs 1,550, Rs 200 is proposed to be paid as a daily attendance incentive by the government.
He added that it is proposed to allocate Rs. 5,000 million for this purpose.
However the government in its 2025 budget speech had already announced that it would intervene to increase the daily wages of estate workers to Rs. 1,700.
Unions have different opinions regarding the promised rise in wages. Some feel it would have been better if the workers received a cost-of-living allowance like the government sectors as their current wage is insufficient to cover family expenses and education of their children.
The unions do not want to trust the government on the promised increase in wages for plantation workers, and not knowing how the plan is going to be implemented has increased mistrust among them.
It is claimed that this situation will lead to a union conflict as the workers will demand essential products or resign from their companies.
Deputy President of the Joint Plantation Trade Union Centre S. Murugaiya said that the government should grant a cost of living allowance instead of the proposed increase.
General Secretary of the Non-Plantation Workers Union Stanley Galhena told the Sunday Times that the plantation workers “have always… been cheated” by the respective government.
Deputy President of the Ceylon Plantation Services Union S. Chandiran said this is a good proposal but companies might face challenges, including workers requesting more milk or tea leaves, or resigning from their jobs.
The General Secretary of the Estate Staff Union Chathura Samarasinghe said that the promised increase is not enough and estate workers would ideally like to receive Rs. 2000.
Mr. Samarasinghe however said that “it is better than nothing- especially since they don’t always get what they hope for”.
The best way to say that you found the home of your dreams is by finding it on Hitad.lk. We have listings for apartments for sale or rent in Sri Lanka, no matter what locale you're looking for! Whether you live in Colombo, Galle, Kandy, Matara, Jaffna and more - we've got them all!