Rs. 1,000 Budgetary Relief Allowance

Legal action against defaulting employers

by Ananda Kannangara

Legal action will be taken against all private sector employers who have not paid the monthly Budgetary Relief Allowance of Rs. 1,000, Labour Relations and Foreign Employment Minister Athauda Seneviratne said.

Minister Seneviratne told the `Sunday Observer' that a recent survey had indicated that at least 40 per cent employers had not done so.

"First we obtained Cabinet approval for the proposal and thereafter the Bill was approved by the Parliament Consultative Committee," he said. The Parliament Consultative Committee comprises members of all political parties representing the Parliament.

Secretary to the Labour Minister, Mahinda Madihahewa said that companies who maintain collective agreements with their employees and institutions which are governed by wages boards are exempted from this salary increase, could decide on their own salary structures. "Employees, who have already been granted salary increases and also drawing monthly salaries exceeding Rs. 20,000 would not be entitled to the Rs.1,000 allowance," he said.

The Labour Secretary also recalled that this was the second occasion after 26 years, the Government took a decision to urge the private sector employers to increase the salaries of their workers.