Trade unions reiterate demand for increase in national minimum wage
View(s):The National Labour Advisory Council (NLAC), which has not met for several months now particularly during the tenure of the previous Ranil Wickremesinghe regime, finally met on Wednesday after a long spell where trade unions reiterated demands for a higher national minimum wage for the private sector.
Veteran trade union leader, Palitha Athukorale, President of the National Union of Seafarers in Sri Lanka, told the meeting which was chaired by Minister of Labour Anil Jayantha Fernando and including his deputy Mahinda Jayasinghe, that they had proposed that the national minimum wage currently at Rs.16,000 to be increased by another Rs.15,000 per private sector worker. Currently private sector workers are eligible to Rs.16,000 plus a budgetary relief allowance which totals up to Rs.21,000.
“We have suggested a minimum wage of Rs.31,000 and in addition the budgetary relief allowance,” he said, adding that state workers get a minimum wage of over Rs.50,000 per month.
The Minister and his deputy were non-committal on the recommendation except to say that it would be examined. Union representatives at the meeting, which was also attended by officials from the Employers Federation of Ceylon and the three conglomerates – Hayleys, John Keells and Aitken Spence, also raised the issue of the controversial labour reforms, much of which is opposed by the unions.
The unions say that they are opposed to provisions which allow termination of employment without a proper appeal process. Mr. Athukorale told The Sunday Times Business that the minister said that they need to examine the provisions one-by-one before taking any decision to proceed with it or not. The ruling National People’s Power (NPP), in its manifesto, had promised to do away with the proposed reforms. “Now they are talking of examining the provisions which is contrary to what was stated in their manifesto,” he added.
The proposed labour law reforms introduced by the previous administration have been challenged in the Supreme Court with a joint trade union group filing a fundamental rights case against the bill on the new employment laws titled the Economic Transformation Commission Bill citing concerns that it violates the Constitution. Unions say the bill had been prepared without due consultation with the relevant stakeholders.
Some weeks back, Free Trade Zone and General Services Trade Union General Secretary Anton Marcus said that they were still awaiting authorities to respond to their request for a discussion on the increase of the national minimum wage to Rs.50,000 (Rs.31,000 plus the budgetary relief allowance). The NLAC is a tripartite body composed of the government, employers and workers.
Hitad.lk has you covered with quality used or brand new cars for sale that are budget friendly yet reliable! Now is the time to sell your old ride for something more attractive to today's modern automotive market demands. Browse through our selection of affordable options now on Hitad.lk before deciding on what will work best for you!