The Plantation Ministry has announced that it will soon address the situation of women in the private plantation sector who do not receive full wages of the day from pregnancy through childbirth and up to six months after delivery. The assurance comes following reports that some pregnant tea plucking women and mothers of six-month-old infants are being paid only half a day’s wage if they fail to meet the daily plucking target.

When contacted, Deputy Plantation Minister, Sundaralinga Pradeep told The Daily Morning that all women in the State sector are already receiving full wages. “Those who don’t receive it will be identified and will be given the full wages soon,” he said. He further added that private sector tea plucking women who do not receive wages on the days that they attend clinic appointments will also have the matter resolved, and that they will be paid for those due dates.