| Public
sector trade union rejects budget
A top trade union representing public servants has criticised the
budget saying the government has once again proved that it has acceded
to the advice of international lending agencies by recognizing the
private sector as the engine of economic growth.
"By doing
so, the intention has been to prune down and discourage public sector
development," said the Confederation of Public Service Independent
Trade Unions (COPSITU) in a statement.
Excerpts of
the statement on the budget: "The worker has nothing else but
his salary to sustain his family and himself. He should have the
ability to buy the required goods and services for a decent living.
The majority of the public servants didn't in the past enjoy this
standard and they are unable to reach that level even now as the
salary increment promised in January 2004 falls short of expectations.
As a result,
they are compelled to go for alternatives to balance their own family
budgets; employing children and encouraging child labour is one
such option. These options will affect the nation adversely in the
long run." "At the same time, the authorities have declared
that the nutrient levels of school children are on the decline.
This again proves that the workers are unable to feed their children
adequately."
VRS
The budget also envisages reducing the strength of the Public Service
by 300,000 during the next two years. The strategy adopted being
another voluntary retirement scheme. On an earlier occasion, a public
administration circular number 44/90 offered a similar option to
the public sector. Public sector workers who retired in this scheme
later regretted for being caught in a trap.
Pensions
Pension payments are to be increased by 10% but no minimum has been
stipulated. As a result, most pensioners do not go beyond a Rs.
300 increase per month. Some thousands of pensioners and their families
are worried about this.
Public
sector
vacancies
It is unlikely that the existing vacancies would be filled in the
future. Probably the government is thinking in terms of entrusting
the burden to the private sector. On the other hand, the labour
laws are being amended to favour private entrepreneurs. It again
proves that the thinking behind the budget proposals is to discourage
the public sector. Under these circumstances, this Federation wishes
to place on records its dissatisfaction of the budget proposals
for 2004." |
