Letters to the Editor
View(s):Australian pension must be granted for eligible Lankans living back here
The failure of both Australia and Sri Lanka to conclude a viable Tax Treaty has caused prejudice to the rights and interests of pensioners of Australian-Sri Lankan heritage. More importantly to those who have left Australia for personal reasons and are unable to return to Australia to collect their retirement income.
Several developed countries being the role models of governance and ethical administration e.g. the U.K., distribute their retirement pensions to whatever bank account in whatever country that is nominated by the pensioner.
It is never too late for Australia to change course in matters of this nature. A democratic country that proudly upholds Western values must reform a law-based public practice that is inequitable, morally indefensible, and unfair by the standards of the civilized world.
If it is good for leading countries of the world such as the USA, England, France, Germany, Japan, Italy, Spain, and even India to allow their lawful pensioners to collect their proper entitlement from any part of the world, what impedes Australia from following suit without adopting a hard uncompromising attitude towards poor pensioners? What is the non-negotiable factor?
Pensioners are the weakest segment of society. The retirees gave their best when they were young to their country of adoption. If they had to return to their country of origin that was because they had no other choice. They simply could not abandon their old parents in their old age.
Depriving a pensioner of his pension income merely because he or she happens to live in a foreign country that is not a Treaty country is not an acceptable excuse. Decision-makers must stop looking at different kinds of people as ‘Aliens’. This is a derogatory term that belongs to the ‘ frontier culture of settlor countries’. It is a 19th-century language. We have evolved.
In legislative drafting, every exception to a general rule is necessarily well thought out when drafting the main body of rules. Exceptions to rules are not uncommon. Here is one instance:
‘A man cannot return to Australia because he is unable to do so due to a variety of unavoidable reasons. The country that he is presently living in has failed to enter into a Treaty with Australia that would provide the platform to claim his Australian pension’.
But in such a context a society that is governed by the Rule of Law must find a solution i.e., in the form of an exception to the general rule. The alternative is more suffering for someone who has given his best to the country of adoption and yet has become a victim of state incompetence and legislative indifference to the plight of those who are caught in such rare crossroads.
Senaka Weeraratna Via email
High time the Labour Dept. looked into low wages of private security guards
Private security personnel professionally known as Industrial Security in this country are treated badly! That is a fact. They are the lowest wage earners but expected to shoulder the highest responsibility in any institution. Is the government and the private sector aware of this?
The facilities provided to them are a bare minimum. I challenge the public to go to most places where private security is provided and see for themselves; they have not been provided the basic facilities like shelter, toilets, drinking water or even torches, standby lighting nor even a cup of tea or facilities to make one, a chair, desk or stationery. Even their own security is at risk.
No one cares, but they are entrusted with the responsibility to protect billions worth of property and assets.
There is plenty of competition among companies which have mushroomed in this trade. Some are registered but avoid paying EPF& ETF, overtime, and provide only low wages.
The Labour Department should ensure some standards for this trade that is a vital part of the national security. Even though there is a professional body called the Industrial Security Foundation incorporated by Act number 51 of 1999 (ISF), not much prominence has been given to them.
If the Labour Department is to find a suitable solution, from Wages Board to a level of clerical grade where they will benefit in terms of leave, medical leave, salary scales, increments, overtime rates etc this will enable those in the trade to ensure better quality staff with a qualification received from the Vocational Training Authority along with training from the ISF.
These officers are expected to search employees, their bags etc and need to have a knowledge in first aid and firefighting. It’s time the Labour Department revised and upgraded the level of those in the trade if we are to expect their best towards prevention of crime!
Nihal de Alwis Via email
Some thoughts on Karapitiya fiasco
It is imperative that the public realize the extreme pressures borne by Onco (cancer)-surgeons in their work environment. An Onco-surgeon cannot afford to have waiting lists for surgical intervention of cancer cases. The surgery he performs is often complex and it is imperative to have the established hierarchy in the operating theatre, where the instructions by the surgeon must be carried out without question. Or else a life is at stake.
From what I gather from Karapitiya colleagues, the surgeon concerned has a high turnover and good results and a very grateful public over several years. To have been ‘threatened’ with assault in the hospital premises by a mob consisting of members of the minor staff, whatever the antecedent events has shocked the entire surgical fraternity. If they had a grouse, they could have gone to the police. The unions mouthing glibly that they, in their trade union actions will not impinge on cancer units, are now seen to be false. Electronic media should be cautious about giving them exposure to mouth their unedited feelings.
Sri Lanka has one of the best health services in this part of the world. Of late many factors have shaken public confidence in the service. Appointment of non-medical ministers, secretaries, unions being given the upper hand, irresponsible electronic media editing are, just to mention a few.
The professionals of this country carry a heavy workload. Unstinted, unheard and unsung they bear this burden silently with professional pride, as we all call this country our motherland. I dread to think of what will happen if the left wing parties and their irresponsible unions are elected in the forthcoming elections!
Dr. Channa Ratnatunga A retired surgeon
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