Sunday Dec 22, 2024
Sunday Dec 22, 2024
Saturday, 6 January 2024 00:15 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
The committee appointed to prepare a comprehensive national social security system covering all workers met this week under the patronage of the Labour and Foreign Employment Minister Manusha Nanayakkara.
The committee, appointed on a proposal made by Minister Nanayakkara to the Cabinet of Ministers seeking permission to prepare a comprehensive national social security system covering the entire workforce, including the formal and informal sector was approved.
It should submit proposals to the Cabinet within a period of three months.
The Minister during the meeting noted that workers in the informal sector, that represent about 60 % of the country’s workforce are not included in any social security scheme.
The Minister stressed that a comprehensive national social security system covering all workers including the informal sector that make up about 60 % of the country’s workforce, should be prepared and submitted to the Cabinet within three months.
He explained that millions of people work in the informal sector in addition to those in the formal sector and a special program called “Garu Saru” has been started to honour and respect their labour. The Minister instructed the committee members to begin consultation sessions promptly on the preparation of a comprehensive social security system and take steps to submit the report to the Cabinet within three months.
The committee was appointed by the President’s Secretary Saman Ekanayake based on the Cabinet proposal submitted by the Minister.
During the meeting, the results of a survey conducted by LIRNEasia Institute regarding social security mechanisms were also presented. A group including Prof. Rohan Samarajeeva representing the Institute participated in the meeting.
