A problem regarding the employment of nearly 3,000 persons working for the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) has cropped up and the Human Resources Association (HRA) is seeking the intervention of President Rajapaksa to settle the dispute.
A decision taken by the Minister has put the employment of these employees at risk.
The workers were hired via human resources companies who supplied the CEB with the said workers.
Many of the workers have served for periods ranging from 4 to 10 (months/years???).
The two-thousand nine-hundred-and-seventy-eight workers now fear their jobs are at stake and carried out a peaceful demonstration opposite the Ministry premises on the 23rd of last month. The workers, comprising 757 meter readers, 199 clerks, 91 drivers, 246 data planners, 42 minor employees and 1,233 labourers believe their jobs are in danger.
According to the workers last year (2009) too a similar situation had arisen and in response to agitation carried out by them, they were summoned to President’s House and an assurance given that they would be absorbed into the regular service.
M.M.C. Fernando Secretary to the Ministry said he had informed the chairman of the CEB vide letter dated 15 December 2009, to settle the matter.
However though a year had elapsed no action had been taken.
Resultantly electricity meters had not been read since the 24th and this has caused a delay in the dispatch of bills.
He added many depots too were facing closure because of this.
Mr. Upul Priyashantha Secretary of the HRA said the association had worked together with the CEB for around a decade. He added though the workforce supplied by them carried out the same tasks as those employed by the CEB, their workers had no job security and received around half the wages paid to CEB employees. He said he hoped the President would intervene to settle the matter.
S. Manoranjan Treasurer of the association said the workers were desperate due to the decision of the Minister.
A meter reader C. Gamage said he had served for a period of 11 years in the Galle area. He claimed his monthly salary amounted to Rs. 12,000/- . Another said he worked from 8.30 am to 3.30 pm. “We do not receive a night allowance” he lamented.
When the Ministry Secretary was asked to comment he said the matter should be referred to the Chairman CEB.
All efforts to contact the chairman proved futile. |
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