The government recently announced the payment of an interim allowance of Rs. 1200/- (due to the high cost of living) to employees of the Government sector, Corporations, Statutory Boards. An allowance of Rs. 750/- was also given to Pensioners. But it is a great injustice that this allowance is not paid to Shop & Office employees and workers of about 40 (forty) Wages Board Trades whose wages are fixed by the Chairman, Government Wages Board.

It is unfortunate that the government has forgot these workers. Don’t these workers feel the pangs of hunger?

I am a security guard employed by a private security agency. The salary fixed by the Wages Board is Rs. 2800/- per month and not even the C.O.L. allowance is paid by the Security Agency because this is not gazetted.

Whether Rs. 2800 is a reasonable living wage is a big question. This is shocking and the Commissioner General of Labour, who is also Chairman Government Wages Board, should look into this immediately. These workers are living from hand to mouth with this paltry wage and living in great hardship.

One could imagine whether even a bachelor could exist on this salary for even two weeks. Is this how the working class is treated?

All workers whether government or private sector should be treated equally without discrimination.

The government requested the Private sector employers to pay the same interim allowance as the government servant were given but nothing has happened.

Therefore the President should order the Commissioner of Labour to issue special gazette notification asking the private sector employer to pay the interim allowance of Rs. 1200/- to all.
T. A. Peterson
Colombo 10