The Government of Sri Lanka has launched a compensation programme to reimburse the textile workers who were laid off due to privatization or closure of about 64 state-run textile units way back during 1980-82.
As per the Government’s estimates, it would require around SL Rs. 330 million to fund the programme.
According to the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, under the program which would be executed in two phases, all the employees who lost their jobs would be paid Rs. 17,000 for each working year that they lost.
Each of the workers so laid off would receive a maximum of Rs. 50,000 from the Government in the first phase, while the remaining dues, if any would be settled in the second phase. Around 196 of over 3,600 workers who lost their jobs during the period have already passed away, the Ministry said.
The Sri Lankan Government headed by President Mahinda Rajapaksa has not overlooked the worker’s contribution, rather it considers worker’s rights to be a key priority, a statement released by the Ministry of Industry and Commerce quoted the Industry and Commerce Minister Rishad Bathiudeen as saying.
