Settlement of a wage agreement with striking tea workers in Sri Lanka is shaky.
In January several thousand workers resumed protests demanding a basic daily wage of 1000 Sri Lanka rupees (LKR) per day, despite an agreement with plantation management reached Jan. 25 setting rates at LKR 750. At current exchange rates, LKR 1000 is equal to $5.50 per day. Protestors are asking the worker’s unions not to sign the agreement with the Employers’ Federation of Ceylon (EFC).
The protests follow a nationwide gathering Jan. 23 when several hundred thousand union members and activists held peaceful demonstrations in 30 cities. The agreement follows months of stalled negotiations. Tea workers in Sri Lanka belong to several labor unions and while some unions appear ready to sign, it is less certain that the Jathika Estate Workers’ Union (LJEWU) will agree.
Labor unions are closely aligned with political parties in Sri Lanka and 2019 is an election year. The Ceylon Workers’ Congress (CWC) has promised to increase the daily wage to LKR 1000.
Economists at the University of Peradeniya estimate a tea worker needs to earn $152 per month to meet his or her basic needs. On average tea workers receive $44 per month (LKR 8000). Workers want an increase to $110 per month.
In recent years the number of tea workers in poverty has increased even though overall poverty levels in Sri Lanka have declined.