Labour unions demand Rs.10,000 pay hike
Sri Lanka’s private sector workers are demanding a monthly wage increase of Rs.10, 000 insisting they have generated profits to boost the economy despite the COVID-19 crisis that resulted in job losses, pay cuts and reduced incentives to the 8 million workforce over the past year.
About 10 trade union bodies representing the different industries in the private sector like banking, apparel, tea and others along with different political parties joined hands to state their support to take their cause to the streets should the need arise. The unions want legislation in place put forward through the next budget for a pay hike but this has not received any acknowledgement from the government so far.
Free Trade Zone and General Services Employees Trade Union General Secretary Anton Marcus said at the virtual meeting of trade unions on Tuesday evening that it is the government’s responsibility to provide them a wage hike through the budget, which is why they request that the daily wage of workers be increased to Rs.1000 and the basic salaries be increased by Rs.10,000 with the minimum increased to Rs.26, 000.
Jathika Sevaka Sangamaya Vice President Sunil De Silva asserted that the first move must be made at the next National Labour Advisory Council (NLAC) meeting scheduled to be held on October 27 where this issue should be raised.
“Our struggle can be achieved by getting onto the streets,” he said asserting that the export sector had earned whopping profits but this is not reflected in the wages of their workers.
Sri Lanka Nidahas Sevaka Sangamaya General Secretary Leslie Devendra explained that the cost of living has increased since 2020 and when compared with 2021 August and September the prices of a number of essential items have increased considerably.
He noted that today it has been recognised that a family of four requires an income of at least Rs.40-50,000 to sustain themselves. “We can’t even imagine how people are living without any service charge that they used to receive in the past especially those in the tourism industry,” Mr. Devendra pointed out.
Ceylon Mechantile Industrial and General Workers Union General Secretary Sylvester Jayakody highlighted that employers did not make losses last year inspite of the COVID-19 pandemic and workers were asked to report to work.
Ceylon Bank Employees Union President Channa Dissanayaka said that today the government and the employers are using the COVID-19 pandemic as a panacea for all ailments but it is hard to even imagine how people are struggling today to just survive.
National Union of Seafarers Sri Lanka President Palitha Athukorale also stated that when the COVID-19 taskforce was established the companies were provided loans but workers received nothing.
“At the next NLAC meeting we will walk out of this body if our proposal is rejected,” he said.
With no control of prices it is uncertain as to how much the inflation rate will soar by next January and February, United Federation of Labour General Secretary Suranjaya Amarasinghe said.
The unions have submitted a letter to Finance Minister Basil Rajapakse proposing to ensure the minimum daily wage as Rs.1000 and increase the existing national minimum wage of Rs.16,000 inclusive of the existing budget relief allowance upto Rs.26,000; and to extend the salary increase to include workers currently entitled to a minimum monthly salary of Rs.60,000.