Joint trade union alliance submits 21 proposals for 2014 Budget
Wednesday, 25 September 2013 00:39
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The joint trade union alliance in Sri Lanka has submitted a set of 21 proposals to the Finance Ministry to be included in the 2014 Budget proposals.
Member of the joint trade union alliance, Wasantha Samarasinghe said the proposals were submitted following a request made by the Finance Ministry for trade unions to submit their proposals for the 2014 Budget.
He observed that the 21 proposals were prepared by the alliance according to the financial crises faced by the people due to the increase in cost of living and decline in purchasing powers.
“Concessions promised by the Government in previous budgets have not been granted and the people’s living conditions have declined,” Samarasinghe said.
The following proposals have been sent to the Finance Ministry:
Salary increase of Rs 10,000 for State employees.
Budget concession of Rs 5,000 for employees, including the private and estate sector employees.
Adding all allowances of State employees to the basic salary.
Issue a gazette notice of the value of a unit of the cost of living calculated at Rs. 280.
Increase of pensions according to the increase of the State employees’ salaries.
Elimination of salary discrepancies of retired and State employees.
Allocation of 6% of the GDP for education.
Increase of sufficient funds promptly for the maintenance of health, transport and other public services.
Activate the labour enactment proposed by then Labour Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa in 1994.
Allocation for funds necessary for the construction of hostel facilities for the free trade zone and export zone employees.
Introduce a social security system for private and semi Government sector employees.
Allocation of sufficient funds for distress loans.
Granting houses and land rights to estate employees.
Concessions to the public by eliminating unfair taxes imposed on electricity and essential goods.
Granting of funds to pay pensions for farmers and fishermen.
Allocation of sufficient funds for fuel concessions granted to fishermen.
Payment of property loans to State employees’ on time, and making a procedure for granting the loan promptly.
Increase the returns granted from Agrahara according to the present situation. Though the fees were increased from Rs. 75 to Rs. 125 from the last budget, returns have not been increased.
Obtain a pension gratuity of Rs. 100,000 from Agrahara.
Making a mechanism to solve the issues of employees’ recruitment procedures and employees’ constitution.
Establishment of the special Presidential Salary Commission proposed for State and private sectors in the Budget 2013.
