Labour Minister questions efficiency of state workers

COLOMBO (News 1st) - Minister of Labour & Trade Union Relations Ravindra Samaraweera presided over an event yesterday (July 16) to launch the Productivity Promotion Guide. This guide contains steps recommended to be taken to improve the services of the Employees' Trust Fund board. Among those invited was also Minister of Public Administration & Management and Law & Order, Ranjith Maddumabandara, Employees Trust Fund Department Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Mahinda Madihewa and also the National Productivity Secretariat Director Suranga Gunarathne. Addressing the occasion Minister Ranjith Maddumabandara stated that the country has 1.5 million state employees and that their productivity and whether or not their responsibilities are been fulfilled is a grave issue to be looked into. The Minister continued that the public constantly complains that they cannot get the necessary work done at a public office and that this allegation has been one which has been present for an extended period of time. "We have to pay 1.5 million and provide pensions to close to 600,000. The state revenue is only 2000 billion. To pay salaries and pension we must spend Rs. 800 billion" added the Minister. Minister of Labour & Trade Union Relations, Ravindra Samaraweera also addressed those gathered stating that the private sector always makes an investment expecting a return. The Minister also explained that if there is a Rs. 10,000 salary increase, that they would be expecting a parallel workload worth Rs.20,000. But in the case of the government sector, it is questionable if the country is provided with at least the labour that the workers are being paid for.