Sri Lanka trade union claims 2011 budget has not granted relief to the state sector employees

Sri Lanka's Marxist party Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) affiliated National Trade Union Center (NTUC) claims that the 2011 budget presented by the government a short while ago is aimed at misleading the state sector employees.

The NTUC says that it would continue to fight for a Rs. 9,000 salary increase and called on the working masses to join forces to launch a massive trade union action to win the demands.

NTUC Head and JVP politburo member, K.D. Lalkantha says that the government has proposed a Rs. 600 cost of living allowance and a 5% allowance to state sector employees in order to overcome the growing unrest among the public sector for a salary increase in line with the rising cost of living.

He says that as at October 31, 2010, the government should have given a Rs. 9, 636 as a salary increment in line with the cost of living index.

He notes that since the minimum wage of a state sector employee is Rs. 11,730, the government's proposed allowance would amount only to Rs. 586.50.

"Therefore the total amount actually granted to the state sector employee would be Rs. 1,186.50. The working people are demanding Rs. 9,636 and after reducing the meager amount allocated in the 2011 budget, the remaining amount stands at Rs. 8,449.50. The working masses will continue to fight to win this amount," Lalkantha said.