Supreme Court issues interim injunction over the promised wage hike for plantation workers!
The Labour Minister’s gazette notification to raise the daily wage of plantation workers to Rs. 1,700 was temporarily blocked by the Supreme Court yesterday with an interim injunction.
The order was issued after an appeal petition was submitted by multiple plantation companies, such as Agarapathana Plantations Ltd., disputing the legality of the wage increase imposed by the Government.
21 plantation companies filed a petition, claiming the Labor Minister’s wage increase decision lacked proper consultation and violated the legal principle of natural justice.
They argued that the decision was random and did not follow proper procedures.
The controversial Gazette Extraordinary No. 2381/35, published on 25 April, had established the daily salary at Rs. 1,350 along with an extra Rs. 350 as a sum of Rs. 1,700, in addition to Rs. Each additional kilo picked will cost 80.
A number of Ministers have publicly stated their intention to seize control of the estates run by RPCs who fail to pay the higher wage.
In compliance with the Court order, Estate Infrastructure Minister Jeevan Thondaman admitted that it was issued because of a small legal mistake. Nevertheless, he stressed that the court anticipates a solution within one month.
After this temporary ruling, a few political parties and labor organizations likely celebrated by setting off fireworks. There is no need to fake emotions of sorrow. We are dedicated to raising the wages of plantation workers to Rs as we had committed. “He included 1,700 more,” he said.
The ruling of the court was announced by a panel of three judges: Justices Gamini Amarasekara, Kumuduni Wickramasinghe, and Janak de Silva.
