An estate worker’s current daily wage is 485 rupees.

Negotiations between workers’ trade unions and estate owners were held four times in the past with regard to increasing estate worker daily wage, but all negotiations failed as estate owners did not agree to increase the wages.

Consequent to this, CWC deputy chairman and Central Provincial Councilor A.P. Shakthiwail has told workers resorted to trade union action.

However, General Secretary of Lanka National estate workers Association K. Velayudan has stated that CWC has launched this trade union action to achieve political gains.

The go-slow was seen in operation in many estates in the hill country today.

CWC trade union action was reportedly launched in certain estates of Kalutara, Agalawatta, and Ratnapura and Matara areas.

An estate worker should pluck an average number of 15 to 20 kilograms of leaves per day, but this average harvest has decreased to 5 kilograms a day due to trade union action.