Minister urges private sector pay hike

COLOMBO: Minister of Labour Relations Athauda Senevirathne, requested private sector entrepreneurs to take necessary steps to increase the salaries of their employees, at a meeting held yesterday at the Ministry.

The Minister said that he made this request after considering many of the hardships faced by the private sector employees due to the increasing cost of living and stated that rapid steps needed to be taken to increase the salaries.

After conducting a lengthy discussion with the Minister the employers agreed to reach a decision on the salary increase before the end of this month.

He added that even though the Government took measures to increase the salaries of public servants, private sector workers did not enjoy a salary increase in the past couple of years.

Minister Senevirathne pointed to them that if they do not increase the salaries of the country's largest working force which amounts to approximately seven million, there is an option for them to seek high-paid employment opportunities abroad.