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Customs’ Unions against proposed reward scheme for detections
All 3 Unions representing Customs officers namely, the Customs Staff Officers’ Union, the Customs Superintendents’ Union and the Customs Officers’ Union have requested a meeting with Finance Minister Mangala Samaraweera to express their displeasure over a proposal to amend the scheme rewarding Customs officers for detections.
The Finance Minister is proposing to distribute 50% of the penalty imposed on offenders apprehended by Sri Lanka Customs among the 1,600 employees of the Department, with 10% of the fine given to the Officers who made the detection, while the balance 40% to be distributed equally among other employees. This temporary measure is to take effect until amendments are introduced to the Customs Ordinance to change the method of awarding rewards.
“The measure, however, would not achieve the desired results and may even be counterproductive to the Department’s efforts,” warned Customs Staff Officers’ Union Executive Committee Member Vipula Minuwanpitiya. Mr Minuwanpitiya said officers who make detections are highly skilled and experienced and the rewards anyway, are given only after paying income taxes. “It is not something that any Customs officer can do. If this scheme is introduced, it may lead to such officers becoming discouraged and their work suffering.”
Minister Samaraweera told Parliament on Wednesday (11) that existing provisions of the Customs Ordinance on granting rewards to Customs officers were unfair, as it benefited only a few individuals. “Under these provisions, those conducting raids would get 50% of the fine imposed on the offenders apprehended by Sri Lanka Customs. There was one officer who earned Rs 100 million a month as rewards, while there were also officers who earned Rs 12 million or more a year,” the Minister stated.
Mr Minuwanpitiya, however, claimed it was wrong to single out such officers, as they were able to make such detections based on their own special skills. “The way this was reported by some media, made it seem as if officers who made such detections and were rewarded, are somehow corrupt,” he lamented.
He also said amending the reward scheme would also affect informants, many of whom give valuable tip-offs to Customs that result in large detections. “If they suddenly find that the amount given to them as rewards has reduced, they too may become discouraged,” he warned.
“There was no plan to initiate trade union action over the proposal, but Unions want to meet the Minister to voice their opposition to the move and explain matters,” the official added.