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| Friday, 21 November 2003 |
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Leading trade unionists yesterday expressed their dissatisfaction over the main Budget proposals which directly affect the working public. Public Service Trade Union Federation President W. H. Piyadasa said at a time when public servants expected a healthy pay hike from the budget, a monthly salary increase of 10 per cent of the present salary or Rs. 1,250 is insufficient considering the prevailing high cost of essential commodities. Piyadasa did not make any comment on the Voluntary Retirement Scheme (VRS) to be introduced from January saying that related details about the scheme are still not available. He said however a two-year commuted pension for a person retiring of his own accord is not sufficient even to invest in a self-employment venture. All Island Government Clerical Service President G. K. Piyadasa rejected all main Budget proposals presented by the Government and said at the time when the public servant expected at least a Rs. 3,000 salary increase, the proposed Rs. 1,250 is insufficient considering the high cost of living. He said during the PA regime when their trade union requested Rs. 3,000 salary increase, the UNP, then in the Opposition wanted a Rs. 5,000 salary increase. "Although we thought that the UNP would give a sufficient salary increase all our hopes were in vain," he said. Piyadasa said the Government would have introduced the proposals made by the Tissa Devendra Commission other than giving Rs. 1,250. Commenting on the Value Added Tax (VAT) proposals introduced from the Budget, Piyadasa said the Government cannot deceive people by reducing five per cent from the already imposed 20 per cent adding five per cent to the current 10 per cent. He said essential commodity items will definitely go up in price when the current 10 per cent goes up to 15 per cent. Commenting on the VRS, Piyadasa said this nature of retirement schemes will benefit workers in health, education and many other essential services but not middle class workers in the public service. All Ceylon Trade Union Federation General Secretary K. D. Lal Kantha said the pay hike of Rs. 1,250 is not sufficient considering the current cost of living and asked the Government to reconsider the salary issue proposals for the benefit of a large number of workers. |
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