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Govt. ends no-pay leave to work elsewhere for state employees
View(s):From January 1 next year, public sector employees will no longer be granted no-pay leave to work elsewhere, as was allowed under a 2022 Cabinet decision, according to a new circular.
Public Administration Ministry Secretary S. Aloka Bandara said the Cabinet has approved a proposal to cancel the five-year leave option, which was used by many to seek alternate employment either locally or overseas. A circular ending the special leave was issued this week.
He added that there will be no leave extension for those who have already obtained such leave, while fresh applications will also no longer be processed.
The Cabinet decision to grant the five-year no-pay leave was taken in 2022 amidst the economic crisis. The leave was granted to pensionable officers without prejudice to their seniority.
Mr Bandara told the Sunday Times that there had been an exodus of professionals such as doctors and engineers who had gone overseas using the facility, but now there was a need for such people in the state sector.
“When the decision was taken, due to the economic crisis, there was the need to reduce the salary bill of the government, but now that the economy has stabilised, it’s important that they return. It takes many years to train state sector employees to make them experienced in their field; so we need some of the seniors back,” he said.
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