The private sector says unable to pay Rs. 5,000 allowance
- Employers Federation informs Labour Minister members can only consider Rs. 5,000 allowance if the economy improves
- Opines private sector had extra expenses to keep business afloat for the past COVID-hit 2 years
- Labour Minister calls on the private sector to submit a collective document to present to Cabinet
- Minister insists on the importance of protecting employees and employers interests for economic recovery and stability
The private sector yesterday categorically informed Labour
Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva that they are unable to extend the Rs. 5,000
allowance to private-sector workers until the economy improves.
These views were expressed by the Employers’ Federation of
Ceylon (EFC) at a meeting chaired by the labour minister to discuss the matter
to extend the Rs. 5,000 allowance to private-sector workers, held at the Labour
Department yesterday.
The members of the EFC also pointed out that they had to
spend a lot of extra money to keep businesses afloat during the past two years
and to keep their employees safe as per the health protocols.
“The export volumes and earnings were also negatively
impacted for the past two years and dropped due to various difficulties they
encountered,” EFC Director General Mangala Yapa said.
Increase in customs duties, unavailability of containers,
soaring costs of production, issues relating to raw material imports and
increased costs, debt moratorium coming to an end in March and high-interest
rates in banks, were also outlined as some of the difficulties the businesses
face at present.
Yapa also asserted that the service sector too was facing a
lot of difficulties, given the current economic crisis.
In response to the private sector views, the Labour Minister
asked them to present a document collectively with their rationales to be
presented to the Cabinet of Ministers expeditiously.
“It is crucial to protect employees and the employers, as
both are equally important factors for economic recovery and stability,” de
Silva stressed.
Representatives from the free trade zones, small industries,
tourist hotels, defence services, small and medium enterprises (SMEs),
manufacturing industries and construction and other services also participated in
the discussion.
Labour Ministry Secretary Mapa Pathirana and Labour
Department Commissioner General Prabath Chandrakeerthi also participated in
this discussion.
Source DailyFT
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