Wildlife officers to launch trade union action on July 9

Colombo, July 2 (Daily Mirror) - The Wildlife Conservation Officers’ Association (WCOU) today announced that they will start trade union action on July 9 if the government does not increase their risk allowance and meet other demands.

Four associations, including the Wildlife Veterinary Officers’ Association and the Sri Lankan Wildlife Rangers’ Association, will join this protest.

Speaking to the media, yesterday, veterinary officer Suhada Jayawardena, a member of the Wildlife Veterinary Officers’ Association, said the current risk allowance of Rs. 11,500 is too low for the dangerous work they do.

“Our officers work 24 hours a day, 21 days a month. We deal with dangerous situations like human-elephant conflicts, capturing wild elephants, treating injured animals including elephants, and handling leopards and crocodiles. It’s a high-risk job, but the allowance we get is not enough,” he said.

Jayawardena also explained that wildlife and veterinary officers have to care for animals suffering from serious diseases like rabies and tuberculosis, which puts their own health at risk.

He urged the government to consider the dangers they face and provide a fair risk allowance and better salaries.

Meanwhile, Acting General Secretary of the All Ceylon Wildlife Association, M.I.W. Peiris, thanked the government for increasing salaries for other state sector employees. However, he pointed out that wildlife field officers have not received any such increase or overtime payments.

He added that even though the Wildlife Director General and the Ministry are aware of their demands, no action has been taken so far.

As a result, the group of wildlife associations has decided to begin their trade union action on July 9.