(UTV|COLOMBO) – The government today announced, just as steps were taken to increase the salaries of state sector employees, the same measures have been taken for private sector employees as well.
Chief Government Whip Minister Gayantha Karunatileka revealed the incentive, in response to a statement made by Leader of the Opposition Parliamentarian Mahinda Rajapaksa under standing orders.
The Opposition Leader claimed that salary increments are yet to be provided for semi-government employees.
MP Rajapaksa noted it was very unfair that employees of boards, co-operations and authorities which are considered to be semi-government institutions had not received an increment thus far although according to the 2019 Budget, all state sector employees had been granted a salary increment of Rs. 2,500.
Mp Rajapaksa demanded the government to rectify this injustice promptly, adding the government must explain the reason behind the failure to increase the monthly salaries of employees of semi-government institutions.
The Opposition Leader added it was disheartening that no discussions had been held to increase the salary of private sector employees.
He also expressed belief the government must intervene to the best of its capabilities, to increase the salary of private sector employees by a reasonable amount.
Accordingly, Chief Government Whip Minister Karunatileka in response said several measures are currently in place to grant salary increments to private sector employees.
Minister Karunatileka stated that under the National Minimum Wage of Workers Act, No. 3 of 2016, that had been introduced by the present government, private sector employees must be paid a minimum salary of Rs.10,000.
The Minister added Cabinet approval had been obtained to increase this minimum wage from Rs.10,000 to Rs.12,500 on the 30th of April 2019 and therefore steps will be taken to amend legislation.
Minister Karunatileka noted additionally, the minimum wage of private sector employees will be further increased through concessions granted in the 2005 and 2016 budgetary allocations to Rs.16,000.
He claimed steps had also been taken to increase salaries under the Wages Boards Ordinance, adding steps had been taken in 6 authoritative councils from February 2019 onward in order to increase wages.
Minister Karunatileka further noted steps had been taken in 19 Councils to also increase wages.\
He reiterated that accordingly such steps have been reached to increase minimum wages for private sector employees, similarly to how wages had been increased for state sector employees.
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