National salary policy for private sector next year

By Ananda Kannangara

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A `National Salary Policy’(NSP) will be implemented by the Labour Relations and Manpower Ministry to help the 850,000 workforce in the private sector from January next year.

The International Labour Organisation (ILO) will provide the technical know-how to the Sri Lankan Government in the implementation of the NSP.

According to the NSP, the salaries of private sector workers will be decided not only considering the educational background of persons, but also the nature of the work.

Labour Relations and Manpower Minister Athauda Seneviratne told the Sunday Observer that he has already brought this matter to the notice of several employers and officials of private sector Wages Boards.

“We will also have discussion with all employers and other relevant parties in the coming months,” he said. He said a national salary policy structure for Government servants is now being formulated by a Government appointed salary committee with the assistance of state affiliated trade unions and it is expected to be released shortly.

He said the delay of making a `National Salary Policy’ for the private sector for the past four decades was the main cause for the launching of work stoppages, strikes and various other work to rule and protest campaigns which affected the country’s economy in a big way.

“The Government is confident that by implementing the NSP even at this juncture will help eliminate such occurrences in the future,” the Minister said.

Minister Seneviratne also said a team of public and private sector officials will be sent overseas to study the salary polices of each country before the NSP is implemented.