CEB restructuring: Energy Min. assures job security
CEB unions to step-up ‘phased’ protest actions The Government assured that the ongoing Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) restructuring process will be implemented in a manner that ensures employees’ job security and preferences. Energy Minister Kumara Jayakody made this statement during a press briefing held yesterday (15) to explain the implementation of the Electricity Act.
Jayakody explained that the CEB workforce, which is close to 23,000, will be divided between the proposed fully State-owned bodies tasked with electricity generation, transmission, distribution and system administration. While all employees have been informed of these measures, they have also been given two months to provide a response regarding the institution that they are being assigned to.Those who do not like to join the newly formed institutions have the freedom to voluntarily retire with compensation, which he said is a legal requirement: “The process that was in place allowed compensation up to Rs. 5 million for a senior official and up to Rs. 2.5 million for a junior official.“However, the Government took a decision to provide up to Rs. 5 million to all officials without a difference. We don’t encourage employees to leave. We have merely given them an opportunity for their preference based on the applicable legal requirement.”
Meanwhile, all unions of the CEB have announced that they will intensify their protest action against the proposed division of the CEB into four parts, effective from yesterday.The CEB Engineers’ Union (CEBEU), along with other affiliated unions, had initially decided to implement the protest in three phases. The first phase was initiated as a ‘work-to-rule’ union action. Although 11 days have passed since the protest commenced on 4 September, the CEBEU stated that the authorities have so far failed to engage in discussions to resolve their concerns.
The union further stated that it will make an announcement regarding the next phase and potential intensification of the protest action following union discussions scheduled for yesterday afternoon.
