The Minister expressed these views during a meeting with representatives of the plantation companies and trade union members at his Ministry.

The collective agreement on estate sector wages came to an end on the 31st of March. Since then the estate workers are in a labor dispute with the companies over the wages.

The trade union representatives have held discussions with the companies on increasing the daily wage of plantation workers to Rs. 1000. However, the tea estate companies say that if the daily wage was increased to Rs. 1000 their companies would face a risk.

Under the government proposed agreement, the daily wages for the estate workers will be increased to Rs. 770.

The collective agreement is expected to be prepared by including the proposals of the Lanka Estate Workers Union, Ceylon Workers Congress and the collective of estate trade unions.