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| Sunday, 17 July 2005 |
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FM assures permanent jobs for graduates by Ananda Kannangara Finance Minister Dr. Sarath Amunugama on Friday assured the Combined Unemployed Graduates Association (CUGA) that all 42,000 unemployed graduates, registered under the Graduates Employment Program would be granted with permanent employment in the state sector before August 31. Issuing a letter in this regard Dr. Amunugama said the CUGA convener Chandana Sooriyaarachchi and other representatives that most of the interviews, conducted for the registered graduates by Ministries and other state sector institutions had been finalised. "All the obstacles pertaining to this longstanding issue are now over and it's clear that all graduates, registered under this program would be in permanent job categories after August 31," he assured. When contacted, Sooriyaarachchi said the objective of holding the protest campaign opposite the Fort Railway Station on Friday was to urge the Finance Ministry officials including the Minister to expedite the granting of permanent employment to a large section of their members. He also thanked the Government for providing around 5000 permanent jobs so far to the members of their association after commencing the program last year. "We hope government would not deceive us again and we believe the Finance Minister will keep to his word. If we do not see positive results we will have to take serious action on this issue," he added. Meanwhile a senior official attached to the Management Services Department (MSD) in the Ministry of Finance yesterday denied some statements made by the Convener of CUGA and said that according to the latest statistics, 5400 graduates have already been given permanent jobs and a record number of 15,000 would be absorbed to the Ministry of Education as teachers and another batch of 5000 to provincial education offices within the next three weeks. "However all graduates would be provided with permanent employment as early as possible," he said. When contacted Deputy Finance Minister Ranjith Siyambalapitiya told the Sunday Observer that all graduates were given training in respective fields such as technology, computer, teaching, clerical and they would be given permanent jobs in a proper way through the Public Service Commission. He said however all graduates, registered with the program are paid Rs. 6000 each per month during their training period. Thereafter they will continue until they are absorbed into permanent jobs with different salary scales. |
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