Trade unions want to reduce the gap between high and low salaries

Mr Toolsiraj Benydin, president of the Federation of Civil Service and Other Unions (FCSOU), in his interview to NewsNow said that “it is deplorable that a general worker is paid around Rs7,000 a month during his first year of service while a Permanent Secretary earns a salary of Rs80,000 monthly, apart from the fringe benefits and other advantages.

“Our struggle is not based on the reduction of salaries of those occupying high posts, but rather to fight for salary increments for the ‘small’ civil servants,” he said.

“The PRB must give full attention to this issue, otherwise the gap will keep on widening to the detriment of those at the bottom of the ladder,” he said. Leaders of trade unions met representatives of the PRB on Wednesday to discuss and working conditions in the public sector.

Trade unions for civil servants are urging the Pay Research Bureau (PRB) to reduce the gap between high and low salaries in the public service.

The authorities, said Mr Benydin, should accept the concept of a minimum salary in both public and private sectors.