Public sector unions in Sri Lanka are intensifying their call for a substantial increase in basic salaries rather than relying on ad hoc allowances to address the escalating living costs. At a joint press conference on Monday, representatives from various public sector trade unions emphasized the pressing need for a significant adjustment in basic pay to alleviate the financial strain faced by government workers.
Highlighting the challenges endured by government employees, union spokespersons cited the mounting expenses such as transportation, education fees for children, and the inflationary impact of numerous taxes. They stressed the importance of enhancing the basic salary to ensure workers can sustain themselves adequately amidst these economic pressures.
Tampitiye Sugathananda Thero, General Secretary of the Joint Health Services Association, underscored the significance of raising basic salaries, pointing out that government pensions are calculated based on this crucial component of remuneration. Many government workers, he noted, receive basic pay below 50,000 rupees, which directly impacts their future retirement benefits.
Expressing dissatisfaction over the prolonged stagnation in basic salary increments, Anuradha Seneviratne, Chairman of the Development Officers Trade Union Federation, lamented that government workers have not seen a raise in their basic pay for eight years. He warned of potential trade union action unless there is a concrete commitment to address this issue through a national policy encompassing the entire public service sector.
As demands for a substantial basic salary increase reverberate across the public sector, the unions remain resolute in their stance, calling for meaningful reforms to ensure the financial well-being of government employees and their families. The urgency of addressing this longstanding issue underscores the need for swift and decisive action from policymakers to mitigate the economic challenges facing public sector workers in Sri Lanka.