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Crisis brewing in plantation sector

14 Feb 2012 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

A crisis is brewing in the plantation sector as well, as a result of the recent fuel price hike as some estate worker unions are threatening a token strike with others too criticising the price hike.

The unions say the estate workers are affected by the increase in the price of kerosene as the price of kerosene was increased by Rs.35 a litre.

The Democratic Workers Congress (DWC) led by Mano Gaensaan has decided to go for a one day token strike soon to protest against the price hike.

Mr. Ganesenan said the increase of kerosene prices by 50% is having a great impact on plantation workers. He said Plantation Workers are already engaged in battles with management companies on the norms issue due to the wrong interpretations of the clauses in the collective agreement signed last year.

This he said this has brought down their income levels. “The increase in the kerosene price has pulled the situation from bad to worse in the estate sector,” Mr. Ganesan added.

He said plantation workers are at the bottom line of the national poverty table. The DWC leader said kerosene is the commodity mostly used by the plantation workers for cooking firewood and for lighting their houses.

He warned that the situation in the plantations may lead to appalling conditions if the price hike and the discrepancies in the collective agreement are not taken care of. Mr. Ganesan said his union is currently having discussions with likeminded trade unions to hold a one day token strike in the plantations in the coming days,” he said

The JVP led All Ceylon Estate Workers Union is also up in arms over the price hike and has planned some action. The All Ceylon Estate Workers Union President Ramalingam Chnadrasekera said they will inform the public that the action they have planned to take today.

However the Ceylon Workers Congress (CWC) which drew a brighter picture on the situation said the fuel price hike would affect the estate workers as much as it affects the other sectors. A spokesman from the CWC said the estate workers use both firewood and kerosene therefore he pointed out that firewood would be an alternative. (Yohan Perera)

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Crisis brewing in plantation sector

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