AKD pledges pension scheme for private sector

Says the manpower system should not continue

By Ajith Siriwardana

The National People’s Power (NPP) has proposed to introduce a contributory pension scheme for private sector employees in a move to ensure a dignified and happy retired life, NPP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake said yesterday.  

Speaking at the 25th convention of the Inter Company Employees’ Union (ICEU), Dissanayake said everyone must enjoy a dignified and a happy retired life claiming that most of the retired persons lead miserable lives.  

He said private sector employees make a huge contribution to the country’s production. “There is a time limit for anyone to work. Everyone must enjoy a dignified and happy retired life. We have a proposal to introduce a contributory pension scheme for private sector employees,” he said.  

Dissanayake said a salary increment procedure is needed to increase salaries for the private sector every six months in line with the cost of living instead of collective agreements of two or three years.  

“Most of our companies have collective agreements of two to three years to increase salaries. It is not appropriate for an unstable economy like ours. If the economy is stable, two to three years of collective agreements are fine. But, in Sri Lanka, the cost of living index is constantly changing. So, we need to revise salaries every six months in line with the cost of living,” he said.  

He also said the manpower system which started one and half decades ago must not continue as it a modern form of slave trade.  

“A system of recruiting employees through manpower companies began one and half decades ago. It is similar to modern slave trade. Your labour is traded through an agent for a commission. It is not justifiable. That model should not continue,” he said.