The inaugural budget of the National People’s Power government has reduced the salaries of employees for the first time in history, said Ravi Kumudesh, president of the Medical Laboratory Technologists Association. Speaking to the media, he said that this action has been taken by changing the basis on which everything like holiday pay, overtime pay etc.
“The holiday pay of employees in the medical sector was 1/20 of the monthly salary earlier, but it has been reduced to 1/30 in this budget. The overtime pay has also been reduced from 1/100 to 1/200 of the monthly salary. This has led to a reduction in our take-home salary for the first time,” he said.
“The number of years of service that an employee in the health sector must serve to get a promotion has been increased from ten years to 20 years. “Previously, a medical worker could get his or her first promotion after six years of service. Under the new system, many will be in the graveyard when we become eligible for promotions,” he added.
Lanka Teachers’ Union Secretary Joseph Stalin said the government has ignored the recommendations of the Subodhini Commission on teacher salaries. He noted that the Subodhini Commission recommended paying two-thirds of the salary arrears, but the government has failed to pay only one-third of the arrears this time.