Salary increase: Stern action against errant companies

By Lalin FERNANDOPULLE

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“The Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) and UNP trade unions demand for a public sector salary increase is purely a political slogan which reflects the frustration of the party and its support to the LTTE, a ruthless terrorist organisation”, Minister of Labour Relations and Manpower, Athauda Seneviratne said.

He said the Ministry has decided to grant a minimum wage increase to employees governed by the Wages Board of the private sector ranging from 15-40 per cent from July 1.

The minimum annual increment will be from Rs. 100 - Rs. 225 according to the grades of the Wages Board.

The government decided to increase salaries of the private sector employees to cushion the rising cost-of-living. A Rs. 1,000 increase was proposed to the public sector employees.

He said stern action will be taken if companies do not comply with the regulation. Labour Ministry officers will look into the implementation of the regulation.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa pledged an overall salary increase of Rs. 1,000 for public sector employees last week.

JVP Trade Unions rejected the offer of the President and were not willing to discuss the matter because their intentions were to gain political mileage and not the welfare of the workers.

The National Trade Union Centre (NTUC) said that the demand for a public sector salary increase was justifiable due to the staggering rise in the cost-of-living which has became unbearable for the low and middle income earning families.

“The government has made victories in the battlefront and are on the path of liberating the North which will be accomplished before the end of the year.

The intention of the JVP is to disrupt development activities and tarnish the image of the government”, the Minister said. JVP and UNP trade unions launched their strikes trying to cripple activities in many public sector institutions on Thursday.

The government said that the strikes had no impact as anticipated by the Trade Unionists and that activities in the public sector went on as usual.

Commodity prices have sky-rocketed in the recent past heaping a huge burden on the people who today are living a hand to mouth existence.

The spiral effect of the increase in fuel prices on all essential commodities has narrowed down the income levels and expenditure of those who earn less than Rs.100 a day.