In light of the ongoing trade union action seeking salary and allowance-related hikes, Grama Niladhari (GN) officers expressed concerns that the ongoing work-to-rule action may affect the discharge of their services relating to disaster management and the emergency response.

Explaining these concerns to The Daily Morning, the GN Trade Union Alliance’s Convenor Jagath Chandralal, said that GN officers’ salaries are in the clerk service’ salary range, which officially requires an eight-hour service per day. He explained that therefore, as part of the ongoing work-to-rule action, GN officers have decided to work only the required number of hours, which may have an impact on emergencies such as those relating to disaster management, which may require their services outside of the working hours.

“We work six days a week, including Saturdays. When there is an issue that requires our services, even at 12 midnight, we provide those services. However, now, under the work-to-rule action, we work only eight hours (a day) as per our salary range. Services required outside of those hours are not fulfilled. However, being conscious about the people and the prevailing disaster situation, even outside the working hours, we perform essential and urgent duties relating to disaster management.”

Noting that their workload has increased owing to disaster management-related needs, which have increased due to the prevailing weather conditions, Chandralal said that even though essential services are being performed, in the future, such duties may be affected.

GN officers made these remarks in a context where they have resorted to an islandwide work-to-rule union action demanding that their salaries and allowances be increased to compensate for increased inflation. 

The Government, last week, said that the necessary steps are being taken to fulfil these demands following the receipt of Cabinet of Ministers’ approval for the relevant proposal recently. However, they remain determined to continue the union action until the Government implements these plans.