Relief to workers

The decision by the Government to offer a relief package to workers who have been laid off due to the fall out of the world economic crisis is but a just proposition. We say this because various relief packages were granted to the Corporate sector to tide over difficulties from the very inception of the crisis.

This no doubt prevented many companies from collapse. Especially noteworthy is the concessions granted to the export sector in the face of a cut down on export orders as a direct result of the dwindling economies of the West. The stimulus package offered in January also helped the private sector to stay afloat.

It is therefore only fair that workers who formed the backbone of these enterprises be looked after in times of distress. True, the economic crisis had placed many companies and firms in the red. It is no secret that some of these companies have been behind payment in the salaries and wages of their staff due to obvious economic difficulties. Hence it is only right that the Government should step in to bail out these workers.

This certainly is the true Human Face of the open economy a term bandied around in the past but not much substance given. It is also typical that President Mahinda Rajapaksa should moot this compensation scheme being a champion of the working class on the path to his rise to the pinnacle.

According to the new package titled ‘Unemployment Benefit Insurance Scheme (UBIS)’ workers who have lost their jobs are to be given a monthly compensation package which is to be worked off in line with their previous salary.

The package will be operative until the worker concerned finds alternative employment or reinstated in their former positions. The President has appointed a Committee comprising officials from the Ministries of Finance, Labour Industries and other relevant organizations such as the EPF, ETF, BOI and the Central Bank to spearhead the effort.

It will be recalled that a similar scheme was proposed by the President when he was Labour Minister to assist the beleaguered workers. Now that the wasteful war is over, one hopes it would not pose a great strain on the Government coffers to meet the requirements of the proposed package which otherwise would have been the case. Understandably the package would be valid only upto a maximum period of one year.

This is based on the fact that the world economies will not be in recession forever and there would be turn around sooner rather than later. The US for instance is gradually picking up the pieces, going by emerging reports.

Therefore the one year ceiling would only be logical. This could perhaps be the signal to start drawing up contingency plans to ward off crises that may be sprung on us out of the blues in the future. The value of this sense of preparedness was amply proved by the country being able to withstand the world food crisis with the timely intervention of the President to order a massive food drive in the country.

The current relief package to workers hopefully would herald the setting up of an established mechanism to compensate workers who may have to be similarly laid off during the time of future economic crises.

The workers on their part should appreciate this gesture on the part of the President and strive to do their bit for the development of the country through cultivation of a good work ethic.

Today sadly our workers have become shirkers and chose to do as little as possible while making unreasonable and unconscionable demands. This attitude should now undergo a change with the country redeemed from the scourge of terrorism and set on the path of development. The time is therefore opportune for all to be partners of this process with the country on threshold of a new beginning.