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by Ananda Kannangara

The Unemployed Graduates Union (UGU) threatens the government with trade union action if the Government failed to offer staff grades to the recently recruited 22,000 graduates.

In an interview with the "Sunday Observer", UGU, Convener, Chandana Sooriyaarchchi said these 22,000 graduates were recruited last year to the Public sector institutions as Assistants without considering the academic qualifications obtained from universities.

"We have already asked the authorities to take appropriate action

to resolve this matter and if there is no positive response, we will be compelled to take steps," he warned. While thanking the Government for introduction of a massive job scheme to all unemployed graduates, Sooriyaarchchi requested the authorities to focus on absorbing them to staff grades.

He said out of 42, 000, who were registered with the Graduates Employment Providing Scheme (GEPS), about 20,000 were given employment in the educational sector and they will also get opportunities to reach staff grade promotions.

"But the remaining 22,000 have not been assigned to staff grades," he lamented. He said the UGU has also made a request to the Public Administration Minister Dr. Sarath Amunugama, seeking permission for a discussion.

Meanwhile a Senior Public Administration Department official dismissed the graduates' demand to absorb them into staff grades and added they should face competitive examinations annually for that purpose.

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