CTU says teachers still not paid for election duty
View(s):The Ceylon Teachers Union (CTU) has said thousands of teachers who were called in for election duties in August this year are yet to be paid for their services.
The Sunday Times learned that over Rs. 20 million remains as anoutstanding payment for the two to three days services rendered by teachers, at election polling stations.
CTU General Secretary Joseph Stalin said the teachers were forced to do election duty despite their reluctance to participate due to the spread of COVID-19 in the country.
“Two months have passed since the election and they have not been paid,” Mr. Stalin said.
Responding to the allegations the Election Secretariat (ES) said there had been a delay in getting funds from the Treasury.
Elections Commissioner General Mahinda Deshapriya said not only teachers but other public servants had to be paid. He said the payment process was slow because of a cash strapped treasury.
“We are getting only Rs. 25 million a week, and we are trying to pay off the vouchers for all departments,” the Commissionersaid.
However the delay is not unusual as it happens all the time, he added.
He also said there was a considerable delay in receiving vouchers from teachers as they had to pass through school administrators, education zonal administrators and then the district education departments before reaching the ES.
“We are trying our best to pay the teachers and public servants as soon as possible,” Mr. Deshapriya said.
-CC