News: Value addition the hallmark

Home News Photos News Videos News Cartoons News Blogs RSS

Home > Information > Value addition the hallmark

Value addition the hallmark

COLOMBO: President Mahinda Rajapaksa underscored the need to augment and consolidate the ‘Social Security’ mechanism of the working class, by value addition to the Employees’ Provident Fund (EPF).

Friday, Sep 12, 2008 | 1361 Views | Comments [View/Post]

President at EPF Golden Jubilee celebrations:

Addressing a colourful ceremony under the auspices of the Labour Relations and Manpower Ministry and the Central Bank of Sri Lanka at the BMICH yesterday to commemorate the Golden Jubilee of the EPF (1958-2008), President Rajapaksa pointed out that with the eradication of terrorism in total in the country, the right of every citizen of the land to engage in vocation or profession, of one’s choice sans fear nor discrimination and suspicion, would be ensured.

The simultaneous provision of optimum retirement benefits to the membership, via prudent and efficient management of their respective contributions, would be the sole objectives and the prime duty and responsibility of his Government. “The Government had ratified several Acts and Labour Laws which the previous regimes had ignored due to various influences, he said, and would consistently intervene at any instant where the rights of ignored the workers are violated.

“It was during the tenure of the Alliance Government of the SLFP, led by its Premier S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike, that the labour force of Sri Lanka won the envisaged workers’ rights and demands. There was an era when the powers at that time, sans any regard to the security and the protection of the workers, were pre-occupied in privatising the EPF process.

Monetery gains and profit maximisation were their only concern, even at the risk of the workers’ rights”, he said. We have a vision and a mission for our working class, of around 8.5 million work force of which about 1.2 million are government servants.

Unemployment figures have dropped drastically to around 6 per cent, the lowest ever, and the value of the Graduates has been recognised to the extent that he should not fear of his future employment prospects. Job opportunities are in abundance, both in the State as well as in the private sector, the President further said.

He said that the EPF which is progressing on the mutual cooperation and dedication of the Tripartite stakeholders comprising the Government, Employer and the Employees, while discharging a social obligation, has rendered an invaluable and yeoman service to the workers within the past 50 years, and urged the Fund to grow from strength to strength in the future.

President Rajapaksa said the Government had the right to probe and ascertain whether the beneficiaries were utilising the benefits accrued from the Fund, in a beneficial and prudent manner, with the future welfare and the security of the worker in mind.

He urged the Employers on their part, to provide an efficient and convenient mechanism to ensure that they match and meet their statutory responsibilities and moral obligations of contributing to EPF, on behalf of their employees. “ The Employer should not seek to abscond from his social and statutory obligations, by creeping through the apparent loop-holes available. Protecting your employees upon their retirement is your bounden duty”, he added.

Pointing out that the Employees too should be fully aware of their responsibilities and duties towards their Employer sans dereliction of duty, President Rajapaksa noted that there were Employees’ Unions who were acting with due responsibility and restrain from their side while there were certain unions which were behaving to the detriment of the nation.

“They strove to win their unjust demands by utilising as shields, innocent students who were incapable of defending themselves”, President Rajapaksa added.. Minister of Labour Relations and Manpower Athauda Senevirathna, his Ministry Secretary Mahinda Madihahewa, the Director International Labour Organisation (ILO) Colombo Tinie Staermosa, the Director General of the Employment Federation of Sri Lanka Ravi Peiris, the Director of the Social Security Department of the ILO Geneva, Michael Cichon, the Governor of the Central Bank Ajith Nivard Cabral also addressed the ceremony.

A memento was presented to President Mahinda Rajapaksa, in appreciation of the great and invaluable service rendered by him, to the working class of Sri Lanka.

A Commemorative Stamp and a Coin was also issued to celebrate the 50th Anniversary, followed by the launching of a new Website for the EPF.


Comment on this article
Guidelines: You must register with a social media account such as Facebook, Twitter, Yahoo, etc. to comment on this story. Click on the "Login" button below to choose your login account of choice. We welcome your thoughts, but this is not an open forum. For the sake of all readers, please refrain from the use of obscenities, personal attacks or racial slurs. All comments must remain on topic and cyber bullying will not be tolerated. All comments are subject to our terms of service. Comments that do not comply may be removed. Repeat offenders will lose commenting privileges.
News Other Language
World News
Movie News
Information
Travel News