By L. B. Senaratne
An “A Team” of casual fire-fighters trained by the Kandy Municipal Council says its members are getting unfair treatment – they have not been insured for the risks they face in their work, and they are not receiving Employment Provident Fund (EPF) or Employee Trust Fund (ETF) payments.
Following a fire that broke out about 18 months ago at the D. S. Senanayake Memorial Library, 29 persons were recruited by the municipality and trained in fire-fighting and rescue work. Although they have performed exceptionally well in their duties, they have yet to be made permanent employees. They are paid a casual wage of about Rs. 400 per work day.
Meanwhile, 23 “old hands” on the permanent fire-fighting staff are also lacking insurance cover.
Two of the trained casual fire-fighters have already left the service, saying they were leaving because they had not been made permanent.
When The Sunday Times contacted the Municipality authorities, they declined to comment on the matter. | 
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