Continuous training, the best answer:

Retrenching staff will have negative impact - EFC DG

Ramani KANGARAARACHCHI

Continuous staff training is the best answer for companies during recession. This will enhance productivity and when the recession ends they will pick up and make the right balance, Director General, Employers Federation of Ceylon (EFC) Ravi Peiris told Daily News Business.

Ravi Peiris

He said some companies are now retrenching staff. Although it may seem as an answer to cut down the expenditure of the company, it will only have a negative impact on the country in the long run. Job losses will create enormous social problems due to unrest and may result in robberies, thefts, destruction and protests in the society.

If companies act wisely and educate the staff about the current situation and negotiate with them explaining how they can get over it and what should be done to improve their skills to sustain; it would prevent many losses and damage to individuals and companies.

Peiris said there are employees in some companies with a lot of paper qualifications drawing high salaries but they lack practical experience and skills in reality. Such employees must be trained at a time like this.

Therefore, companies should seriously re-look at the problem and help employees to acquire the relevant skills and convince them on their employability, Peiris said.

Asked about other options for companies, he said that stopping new recruitment, wage freezing or wage cuts and doing more work are some options rather than retrenching people. Those who work six days a week could be asked to work five days and work a few additional hours to cover the gap. This is another option but it has to be done on a case by case basis, Peiris said.

Head of Training, EFC, Dr. K.L. Chandratilake said that no competitive edge can be sustained by an organization without a trained, skilled and motivated set of employees working in harmony with the management. There are a lot training needs for the SME sector in the country as well and the EFC can respond to these requirements as a consultant.

The EFC also has a separate training unit to support the companies with tailor-made training programs on Industrial Relations, Occupational Safety, Human Resource Management, Gender and Sexual harassment issues at the workplace and it has organized a Symposium on Global Recession and Strategic Options for Employers on May 14 at the Waters Edge in Battaramulla, he said.