The Hon. Gayantha Karunathilleka

¶ 01 Hon. Deputy Chairperson of Committees, I am pleased to speak in this debate on the three amendment Bills to the Budgetary Relief Allowance and National Minimum Wage.

¶ 02 This debate gives us a chance to speak for the voiceless who, with great effort and without burdening the State, struggle to make ends meet — the private sector, farmers, fishers, the large numbers in the apparel sector, and plantation workers who bring foreign exchange. Many in formal private employment receive some benefits, but a vast number work informally — shop assistants, domestic workers, sanitation and cleaning workers, private security guards, and many manpower workers. They do not receive proper wages though they render significant service. We do not even have accurate data on how many of them there are.

¶ 03 We know the present Government has decided to revise the national monthly minimum wage for private-sector workers. Though we are in Opposition, we welcome any method that increases people’s wages. The Government intends, through the 2005 and 2016 Budgetary Relief Allowance laws, to absorb the Rs. 3,500 relief into the basic wage and abolish the separate allowance. That is fine; adding to the basic is good. But after these two Bills are passed, there is a risk that future Budget relief allowances will bypass private-sector employees — i.e., they might lose future relief that is granted to others. Only increases in the basic wage would benefit them; that could create wage disparities.

¶ 04 Today all wage earners struggle greatly to maintain their families. People live with great difficulty. You came to power promising to be the friend of the poor, but now all — the poor, workers, and the middle class — have been dragged from frying pan to fire. As one MP said, you increase on one side and take back more through taxes and cost of living. The daily increasing taxes outweigh the wage increase. When we go to buy rice, coconuts, fuel, or pay the electricity bill, there is no difference between a private worker and a rich person — everyone pays the same. We remember how you talked about reducing fuel prices, and this morning a question was asked — you claimed prices were high due to commissions and unlimited taxes and even showed calculations from port to pump. You got a people’s mandate promising to reduce this.

¶ 05 Similarly with electricity — you showed how a Rs. 9,000 bill could be cut to Rs. 6,000, and Rs. 6,000 to Rs. 3,000. That was said by none other than the current Finance Minister — the President. Today VAT remains on essential food items despite promises to drop it to zero — on medicines, and on school books and supplies. Instead we see tax upon tax. Hence workers and the public are disillusioned.

¶ 06 Finally, I must raise the grave crisis in national security. Every day we hear of shootings and murders. People now ask daily where the latest shooting happened. It has become routine. Yet you came to power saying you would stop these things easily, as if it were simple.

¶ 07 You also promised much to pensioners. Today pensioners face many issues, salary anomalies, and have not received promised benefits. They must choose between buying medicine and food. Without both, they cannot live. Please pay special attention.

¶ 08 A large share of our labour force is in the informal private sector with minimum protection — no proper wage systems, no pensions, loss of rights and benefits, and no occupational safety. The Government has a great responsibility regarding their security. You promised Rs. 1,700 daily to estate workers. In a couple of months this Government will be close to a year in office, yet you have not delivered. I urge you to pay greater attention to workers — especially the private sector — and thank you for the time, Hon. Deputy Chairperson of Committees.