Supreme Court issues interim injunction preventing Rs. 1,700 wage hike for plantation workers

• Estate Infrastructure Minister Jeevan Thondaman says Govt. is committed to increasing plantation workers’ wages to Rs. 1,700
• SJB MPs accuse Govt. of wage election tactic, duplicity in its approach to different stakeholders

The Supreme Court yesterday issued an interim injunction preventing the implementation of a gazette notification by the Labour Minister that sought to increase the daily wage of plantation workers to Rs. 1,700.

The order came as a result of an appeal petition filed by several plantation companies, including Agarapathana Plantations Ltd., challenging the legality of the wage hike mandated by the Government. 

The court’s decision was delivered by a three-member bench consisting of Justices Gamini Amarasekara, Kumuduni Wickramasinghe and Janak de Silva.

The interim order will be in effect till the conclusion of the hearing of the petition. The court has scheduled the next hearing for 28 August.

The petition was filed by 21 plantation companies, arguing that the decision by Labour Minister Manusha Nanayakkara to increase wages was made without proper consultation and thus violated the legal principle of natural justice. 

They contended that the decision was arbitrary and lacked due process.

The contentious Gazette Extraordinary No. 2381/35, issued on 25 April, had set the daily wage at Rs. 1,350 with an additional Rs. 350 to total Rs. 1,700, plus Rs. 80 for each extra kilo plucked.

Several Ministers have openly threatened to take over the estates managed by RPCs that do not pay the increased wage.

Responding to the Court order, Estate Infrastructure Minister Jeevan Thondaman acknowledged it was issued due to a minor legal error. However, he emphasised the court’s expectation for a resolution within a month.

“Following this interim order, some political parties and trade unions must have burst firecrackers. There is no need to shed crocodile tears. As promised, we are committed to increasing the plantation workers’ wages to Rs. 1,700,” he added. 

The main Opposition, Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) MP Palani Thigambaram, reiterated that the plantation sector daily wage hike announced by President Ranil Wickremesinghe during the May Day rally was merely a tactic by the Government ahead of elections. 

“As predicted earlier, it is just another tactic and a conspiracy by the Government with the employers of the Regional Plantation Companies (RPCs) used to sway voters in the lead-up to elections,” he claimed. 

SJB MP Mano Ganeshan expressed disappointment with the Government’s handling of the situation, suggesting duplicity in its approach to different stakeholders.

“We are not surprised by the Court order. The Government shows two faces. One is that they show to the trade unions and MPs within the Government and another face to the RPCs. All we have to say to the President this time is “very sorry”. People no longer tolerate their lies,” he said. 

Advisor to the President Vadivel Suresh remained hopeful for a favourable outcome to increase wage hike in the next hearing.