House passes Rs. 1000 private sector pay hike Bill
 

BY Bharatha Malawaraarachchi and Ranil Wijayapala

THE Budgetary Relief Allowance of Workers Bill seeking to increase the salary of private sector employees by Rs 1,000 was passed in Parliament yesterday with amendments.

The Bill presented by Minister of Labour Relations and Foreign Employment Athauda Seneviratne received the unanimous approval of the House.

Presenting the Bill, Minister Seneviratne said the Bill was a long-felt need. "After the salary increase of Rs 2500 given to the public sector employees, there was a demand for increasing salaries of the private sector employees."

He explained that the Bill was prepared after discussions with the employers and trade unions.

Employees whose monthly remuneration is Rs 20,000 or less will be entitled to this salary increase, which will be effective from August 2005.