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Different ideas about tea industry and its future

P. Rajaratnam in Nuwara Eliya

Different thoughts are expressed by employers and trade unions about the tea industry and its future prospects over the recent wage hike of Rs. 147 after discussions between major plantation trade unions, government and the Employers' Federation.

CWC leader Arumugam Thondaman who spearheaded on behalf of major plantation unions, Lanka Jathika Estate Workers Union and Joint Plantation Trade Unions, reached an agreement and signed a collective agreement with the Employers Federation, despite some plantation trade union attempts to cash in, promising they could get nearly Rs. 200 or at least Rs. 187.

Senior planters said the recent pay hike will not be economically viable, except for nearly 10 per cent of the estates, as the cost of production has gone up to almost Rs. 200 per kilogram due to dry conditions.

They said with the present pay increase, all inputs and other development perspectives had to be cut down or totally stopped to meet the price hike which had gone up by 22 per cent of the total pay in every estate. Senior planters in areas like Maturata, Uadpussellawa and Uva said the dry spell had compelled them to curtail the number of days of work offered to their workforce.

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