Cane cutters have ended their strike in three plantations Saturday
after mediation by Social Welfare Minister Diego Palacio between the
workers and their employers. The ministers expects cutters on other
plantations to resume working soon too.
The cutters had been on strike for two months, demanding a more honest pay for their work and improved working conditions. The plantations reacted by suspending all wages, nearly completely crippling the economy of some regions in Cauca and Valle del Cauca.
According to the chairman of the National Association of Cane Cutters Ramon Palacios said they had achieved agreements in relation to housing and education, but say the workers are still afraid losing their job because of a possible upcoming mechanization of the cutting of cane.
The Social Welfare Minister said the country should be prepared ofr the mechanization of cane cutting and stressed the importance of guiding the transistion period, not leaving thousands of people unemployed.
