Sri Lankan government proposes tiny wage rise to deflect plantation workers’ unrest On February 8, a Sri Lanka wage board approved an utterly inadequate wage rise for estate workers proposed by the Rajapakse government in collaboration with the plantation unions. It consists of an increase in the daily wage to 1,000 rupees ($US5.09), comprising a 900-rupee basic wage and a 100-rupee allowance. While union and labor ministry representatives, who hold a majority on the board, voted for the proposal, the Employers’ Federation of Ceylon (EFC), Sri Lanka Tea Factory Owner’s Association (SLTFOA) and the Regional Plantation Companies (RPCs) voted against the tiny increase.