Workers' rights and benefits will be protected - Posts Minister

Razeena Razick

COLOMBO: Posts and Telecommunication Minister Rauff Hakeem assured Sri Lanka Telecom (SLT) Trade Union leaders that he would do everything possible to protect workers rights and benefits.

He said privatisation need not cause disruption among unions and that he will take measures to mitigate the conflict which currently operates in the SLT management. He said he will take all measures to initiate direct discussion with the Telecom management and the unions.

"Even the Government has SLT shares, yet there are many administrative conflicts after the privatisation of the company," the Minister said.

He said since the Telecom is under the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunication he expected to find solutions to conflicts at Telecom.

Under the policy of the President Rajapaksa there will only be structural changes without selling Government properties to the private sector.

The Telecommunication sector is seeking expansion each day. There are heavy investments flowing into this sector.

It is the responsibility of trade unions to save investment and to report of allegations against the company, Hakeem said.

He said SLT is in a competitive stage where there are other companies competing parallaly.