Minister ends estate worker-management row

Youth Empowerment and Socio Economic Development Minister and Ceylon Workers Congress General Secretary Arumugan Thondaman took initiatives to solve a dispute between the management and workers of the Malvattaveli plantation in Kegalle and Badulla.

Following a discussion between the Minister and the management of the estates, the Minister reached a decision to help workers allegedly harrassed by the Plantation Committee, a Ministry release said.

The workers had lodged complaints that the Committee forced them to work for long hours and to call off the strike organised by the workers which demanded to raise their wages, it said.

The Minister directed to reopen the Chelsi and the Vugeland tea factories before October 1 and re-employ those women who returned from Middle East.

He also urged to pay 72 days' daily wages to pregnant mothers employed on a temporary basis.

Watchers should be employed at each estate. The temporary workers should be made permanent after one year, the Minister said.