IPOH - The deal on the minimum wages for rubber tappers and generalworkers in estates is expected to be sealed before year end and will beimplemented early next year.

National Union of Plantation Workers (NUPW) secretary-genaral G. Sankaransaid the much-awaited minimum monthly wages would be more than the RM325received by oil palm plantation workers.

"We will ask for a higher amount. I cannot tell the quantum yet as we arestill negotiating with other parties," he told reporters after attendingthe Perak NUPW triennial general meeting here today.

He said the collective agreement between NUPW and Malayan AgriculturalProducers Association (Mapa) would expire this year and the union wouldsubmit its proposal for the minimum wages in October.

The union has signed an agreement with Mapa for the implementation ofminimum monthly wages for oil palm plantation workers, namely the fruitpluckers and palm oil factory workers, on Feb 7 this year.

Under the agreement, every worker at an oil palm plantation will get atleast RM325 every month regardless of the number of days they have workedin a month.

There are about 180,000 workers under NUPW while two thirds of the wholeplantation area in the country is under Mapa.

14 August 2001Business Times