Sri Lanka: Tea plantation companies challenge daily wage increase for workers in court
Summary
Date Reported: 28 Feb 2022
Location: Sri Lanka
Companies
Lalan Rubbers (Pvt) Ltd - SupplierAffected
Total individuals affected: Number unknown
Workers: ( Number unknown - Location unknown , Tea , Gender not reported )Issues
Wage Theft , Minimum WageResponse
Response sought: No
Source type: News outlet
Summary
Date Reported: 28 Feb 2022
Location: Sri Lanka
Companies
Agarapatana Plantations Ltd. - Supplier , Ahmad Tea - BuyerAffected
Total individuals affected: Number unknown
Workers: ( Number unknown - Location unknown , Tea , Gender not reported )Issues
Minimum Wage , Wage TheftResponse
Response sought: Yes, by BHRRC
Story containing response: (Find out more)
Action taken: This company supplied to Ahmad Tea, according to the BHRRC Tea Supply Chain Tracker; Ahmad Tea provided a response to a request for comment from the Resource Centre.
Source type: News outlet
Summary
Date Reported: 28 Feb 2022
Location: Sri Lanka
Companies
Balangoda Plantations PLC - SupplierAffected
Total individuals affected: Number unknown
Workers: ( Number unknown - Location unknown , Tea , Gender not reported )Issues
Wage Theft , Minimum WageSource type: News outlet
Summary
Date Reported: 28 Feb 2022
Location: Sri Lanka
Companies
Elpitiya Plantations PLC - Supplier , Ahmad Tea - Buyer , Tetley (part of Tata Consumer Products) - Buyer , Teavana (part of Starbucks) - Buyer , Unilever - Buyer , Lipton Teas and Infusions (formerly ekaterra) - BuyerAffected
Total individuals affected: Number unknown
Workers: ( Number unknown - Location unknown , Tea , Gender not reported )Response
Response sought: Yes, by BHRRC
Story containing response: (Find out more)
Action taken: Elpitiya supplied to Ahmad Tea; Unilever; Tetley; ekaterra and Starbucks Teavana, according to the BHRRC Tea Supply Chain Tracker. All of these buyers provided a response to the Resource Centre's request for comment. Ahmad Tea and Tetley confirmed that they did not buy tea from the company in 2022.
Source type: News outlet
Summary
Date Reported: 18 May 2023
Location: Sri Lanka
Companies
Horana Plantations PLC - Supplier , Ahmad Tea - Buyer , Bettys & Taylors of Harrogate - Buyer , Ringtons Limited - Buyer , Tetley (part of Tata Consumer Products) - Buyer , Typhoo - Buyer , Tesco - Buyer , Marks & Spencer - Buyer , Morrisons - Buyer , Unilever - Buyer , Lipton Teas and Infusions (formerly ekaterra) - BuyerAffected
Total individuals affected: Number unknown
Workers: ( Number unknown - Location unknown , Tea , Gender not reported )Response
Response sought: Yes, by BHRRC
Action taken: This company supplied to Ahmad Tea; Bettys & Taylors: Ringtons; Tesco; Tetley; Marks & Spencer; Unilever; Morrisons; ekaterra; Typhoo according to the BHRRC Tea Supply Chain Tracker. All companies provided a response to a request for comment from the Resource Centre. Morrisons and Unilever informing the Resource Centre that it did not supply from the estate in 2022.
Source type: News outlet
Summary
Date Reported: 28 Feb 2022
Location: Sri Lanka
Companies
Udapussallawa Plantations PLC - SupplierAffected
Total individuals affected: Number unknown
Workers: ( Number unknown - Location unknown , Tea , Gender not reported )Issues
Minimum Wage , Wage TheftResponse
Response sought: No
Source type: News outlet
Summary
Date Reported: 28 Feb 2022
Location: Sri Lanka
Companies
Watawala Plantations PLC - SupplierAffected
Total individuals affected: Number unknown
Workers: ( Number unknown - Location unknown , Tea , Gender not reported )Issues
Minimum Wage , Wage TheftResponse
Response sought: No
Source type: News outlet
"Plantation companies’ petition against daily wage hike of workers fixed for argument", 28 February 2022
A writ petition filed by 20 major plantation companies challenging the decision of the Wages Board to increase the daily wage of plantation workers to Rs. 1,000 has been fixed for further argument by the Court of Appeal.
...President’s Counsel Avindra Rodrigo appearing for a respondent party informed Court that several plantation companies are deliberately refusing to pay Rs.1000 daily wage for the plantation workers.
The Court of Appeal bench comprising Justice Sobhitha Rajakaruna and Justice Mayadunne Corea fixed the writ petition for further argument on March 4.
The petitioners are; Agarapatana Plantations Limited, Balangoda Plantations PLC, Elpitiya Plantations PLC, Horana Plantations PLC, Hapugastenne Plantations PLC, Kahawatte Plantations PLC, Kegalle Plantations PLC, Kelani Valley Plantations PLC, Kotagala Plantations PLC, Madulsima Plantations PLC, Malwatte Valley Plantations PLC, Maskeliya Plantations PLC, Natural Plantations Limited, Namunukula Plantations PLC, Talawakelle Tea Estates PLC, Udapussallawa Plantations PLC, Watawala Plantations PLC, Hatton Plantations PLC, Bogawantalawa Plantations PLC and Lalan Rubbers (Pvt) Ltd. The petitioners had named Labour Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva, Chairman of Wages Board for tea, rubber growing and manufacturing trade Prabath Chandrakeerthi and several others as respondents.
These plantation companies are seeking an order quashing the decision of the Wages Board to increase the daily wage of plantation workers to Rs. 1,000.
The petitioners stated that in the event they are compelled to pay Rs.1000 as a minimum wage to every estate worker, they would incur significant losses and the petitioner companies would all run at a loss in the foreseeable future...
This increase comprises Rs.900 as the minimum daily wage and Rs.100 allowance...