Cabinet Minister Bandula Gunawardena said that the government will not be able to allocate money this year to resolve the wage disparities demanded by the state and public sector trade unions under public financial management.
Speaking to the media, he said that several trade unions have requested the President as well as the government to consider their demands, but it is not possible to do so at this time.
The minister said that the trade unions of the university’s non-academic staff are already on a strike based on salary disparities and salary increase demands, and the health sector, the education sector and other government institutions have jointly launched several professional measures.
Explaining the situation, he said that this year’s budget only includes financial provisions for the changes caused by increasing the salary allowance of 10,000 rupees.
However, he said that the President instructed to appoint an expert committee to study the salary disparities in all public sector institutions and give recommendations. Therefore, Minister Gunawardena requested all the trade unions of the government to submit their problems and recommendations to the expert committee so as not to hinder the services of the public sector.