Pensioners victimized by malicious suspension of salary increment

The opposition parties are accusing the government of engaging in wasteful schemes like importing luxury cars for the new MPs, increasing the salaries of MPs and ministers, renovation (beautification) of 200 towns programme at a cost of Rs. 2000 million, etc. If these stories are true the society is going to be deeply disappointed because at a time when the whole nation is concerned about basic essentials, such mega projects must be postponed until this pandemic is totally wiped out.

In this context there is another serious issue that is being disregarded by the government. A community of about 100,869 pensioners who retired between 2016-2019, are deprived of their last salary increment which was due to be paid with effect from January 2020.It is a mystery why the government has been neglecting or postponing this for nearly two years. The pensioners don’t ask for a dole or other relief packages but they demand their right which has been deprived of.

They also have been facing difficulties with numerous commitments for their old age medical expenses, treating children and grandchildren, performing social and religious obligations, having to pay loan installments and most of all battling with the rising cost of living with their present meager salaries during this difficult period. If the suspended salary increment had been paid to them since its due date it could have been a great relief for them and their dependents to augment with the cost of living.

I would like to pinpoint the ins and outs of the matter for the impartial awareness of the honorable president, prime minister, Advisor to the President Lalith Weeratunga, Secretary to the President P. B. Jayasundara, Minister of Public Administration, secretaries of the ministries of public administration and finance, the Commissioner General of the Department of Pensions and the ombudsmen of the Parliament and the Presidential Secretariat.

The last segment of the five stage series salary increments scheme introduced in 2015 was scheduled to be paid with effect from January 2020.The Commissioner General’s pension award letter issued to pensioners, clearly indicates the figures of the increment to be paid on this date .Ensuring the implementation of this payment was an election promise those days by the present government. In compliance with that promise the Cabinet meeting held on 11.11.2019 headed by the president gave approval to pay the increment (by circular number 35/2019 dated 10.12.2019). The community of pensioners were hopeful of getting it on the due date. They presented the salary award letter as a security to the banks and got loans because the cabinet decision is constant and trustworthy.

Shocking the entire community and in sharp contrast to the previous stance, the Cabinet meeting held on 02.01.2020 cancelled the previous approval saying that there are salary anomalies. The circular no.35/2019(1) issued by the secretary Ministry of Public Administration says the cabinet suspended the scheme because there are anomalies.

If we look back, during that time there was no outcry from the general public or state employee categories or cadres about anomalies, no street demonstrations, no complaints, and no objections not even mention of it. So how was this imaginary reason invented as a justification for the suspension of the above scheme? It is a mystery. The word, anomalies, is a fabrication created by some unscrupulous advisor to mislead the President and the Prime Minister and to delay the payment of the increment.

There may be anomalies in the present salary structures of different cadres. They have to be revised carefully and slowly in the long run. Why this sudden awakening to an anomaly which is nonexistent among this category of pensioners. Nearly Two years have passed since the effective date. Therefore, it is futile to repeat the anomaly pretext any further. There is no alternative but to implementing the suspended scheme.

The National Organisation for Preservation of Rights of Retired Personnel has informed the President about this unfortunate situation and awaiting a positive response. Without waiting for the next budget date it is the duty of the government to order unconditionally the instant abolition of the suspension and the payment of the said increment with arrears and with immediate effect in order to relieve the sufferings of the pensioners during this Covid-19 hit hard time.

M. B. Navarathne