Labour Council to meet on special allowance issue

Trade unions represented on the National Labour Advisory Council (NLAC) are considering other action if their proposal for a special allowance of Rs 2,500 to private sector employees is rejected.

Union officials said that a letter sent to President Mahinda Rajapaksa asking that he endorse this proposal has been sent to Treasury Secretary Dr P.B. Jayasundera who in turn referred it to the Labour Ministry. They said a meeting of the NLAC, coordinated by the Labour Ministry, is likely to be held next week to discuss the proposal.

The unions are asking a Rs 2,500-increase without deductions for private sector workers due to the high cost of living and inflation currently at 19 percent.

The officials said they are waiting for the outcome of this meeting and will contemplate other action if there is no approval to the proposed hike.

There are 10 unions on the NLAC who represent a total of 50-60 percent of the organized workforce in the private sector.
Earlier this month, the Ceylon Federation of Labour (CFL) expressed disappointment that Rajapaksa hadn’t paid heed to the representations made by unions in the private sector for the special allowance to be added to the pay of all employees in the private sector.