Earlier, tea workers received in addition to basic wage of 101 per day, Rs 6 as price share supplement and Rs 14 per day for 85% or more attendance per month. With effect from 15 March, they will be entitled to Rs 15 as price share supplement and Rs 5 per day for 75% or more attendance. Some trade unionists are dissatisfied and accuse government ally the Ceylon Workers Congress (CWC), which led the protest, of a sell out.
Reports say that the increase around Rs 250 a month will cost the companies an additional Rs 700 million ($8 million). The Planters Association laments that the industry incurred Rs 1 billion ($11 million) loss during the Satyagraha. The Association’s Chairman Mahendra Amarasuriya also accuses the tea workers of preventing transport of tea to Colombo during the campaign.
According to the London Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU), in 2000, tea production rose by 7.8% to 305.8 million kg, setting a new record for a sixth consecutive year. Export volumes rose by 7% to 288 million kg and earnings rose by an impressive 23% to Rs 53 billion from Rs 43 billion in 1999.