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The Committee notes the information provided by the Government in reply to the observations made by the Independent Workers’ Union (IWU) concerning the alleged wage debt owed to workers of Harepark SP tea plantation. The Committee notes that according to the payment details provided by the Assistant Commissioner of Labour of the Kandy-North District, judicial proceedings have already permitted the recovery of certain amounts and steps will be taken to recover unpaid contributions to the Employer Provident Fund while further investigation would be needed with respect to certain periods for which no records are available. The Committee notes, however, that whereas the Government refers to a single individual complaint received so far on non-payment of gratuity, IWU maintains that the situation concerns 500 employees and an estimated overall amount of Rs255 million (approximately 1.6 million euros). It therefore asks the Government to supply in its next report full and documented information on the situation and to keep it informed of any progress made for the settlement of outstanding payments.

The Committee is raising other points in a request addressed directly to the Government.