Govt. likely to review 5-year no-pay leave scheme for public employees to work abroad

5 June 2023 05:19 am - 10 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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By Nishel Fernando

The government is likely to review the decision granting public sector employees to work abroad for a five-year period, with the best performing employees in the public service leaving the country under the scheme potentially weakening the public service, according to a senior state official.

Dr. Anil Jasinghe
Pic by Kithsiri De Mel

“In the public service, the best officers are leaving. If they are performing better, there’s more likelihood of them leaving. So, we are going to reconsider this,” Sectary to the Ministry of Environment Dr. Anil Jasinghe said.

He shared these remarks during a joint press conference organised by the Postgraduate Institute of Management (PIM) and Postgraduate Institute of Management Alumni (PIMA) in Colombo last Friday. At the height of foreign exchange crisis, the government allowed public sector employees to work abroad for five years with no-pay leave while assuring their seniority or pension rights upon their return. Although, this decision seemed sensible one year ago as a way to reduce fiscal expenditure and to increase forex inflows, Dr. Jasinghe pointed out that in practice, this has resulted in most efficient and most qualified employees leaving the public service for foreign employment.
Hence, he highlighted that the public service could be left with less productive and less qualified employees.

So far over 2,000 public sector employees have secured necessary approvals to obtain extended leave for a five-year period to travel overseas for employment.

Under the scheme, public sector employees were allowed to utilize the no-pay leave to work abroad, receive vocational training, or improve their language and IT skills.

Sri Lanka has around 1.5 million employees in the public sector, which is characterised by low productivity.

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Comments - 10

Prof. K.M. Vellasamy Monday, 05 June 2023 07:06 AM

Sending public sector employees on five years leave to work aboard is not a good move. Did the Government think about the smooth function if such a large crowd leave the island this is a master plan of Ranil Wickramasinghe to irradicate the wise men in our country.

Reormist Monday, 05 June 2023 07:30 AM

The question is what are you going to do about the inefficient, bloated number of pubic servants who neither can go overseas nor perform locally, but drawing salaries for doing nothing? That is the million dollar question. Most, if not all, have been put there by politicians as a gift for supporting them for being elected.

It is wise to keep mum, if you don't know. Monday, 05 June 2023 09:00 AM

Are you trying to penalize the efficient workers for being efficient? This is very shallow thinking! Do you want them to leave the job, which is a total loss to the nation? Or be inefficient? Why do they go? I met a young man who went for 2 years, with the only aim of buying a Fridge and Radio set-up. He returned in 2 years for his love for his parents.

Chris Monday, 05 June 2023 09:46 AM

We lack commonsense. The State sector employees get free education. They get trained and probably do very little work. Then they go overseas for 5 years and get their jobs back and pension. When will we stop this kind of stupidity?

Love LK Monday, 05 June 2023 10:07 AM

This shows the government is incompetent to deal with public services..why did they give 5 years no pay leave first place without considering the consequences .How many Dr left ? How many teachers left ? How many university lecturers left? How many civil servants left ? I think all will leave except politicians...

Dr. Kalai Monday, 05 June 2023 10:45 AM

Anil, do You want to hold them by force? Just tell me a way to survive in SL. The average salary of an SL doctor is USD 600, and there are offers from many countries starting from USD 3200. What do you want me to do? Show me a way how to live a decent life here.

Citizens Monday, 05 June 2023 10:52 AM

It will be more beneficial to Srilanka if u seek a job abroad c

Karalasingam Sivalingam Monday, 05 June 2023 12:14 PM

When political patronage is sought to seek employment in public sector, no doubt, we will have inefficient staff. Introduce examinations for recruitment, which will akin to a merit system, efficient people will emerge to run the public service.

FairJudge Monday, 05 June 2023 12:16 PM

How do you solve SL graduate unemployment by forcing them to stay here? Doesn't SL have a massive graduate unemployment problem and protests demanding Gvt jobs? Isn't it better for everyone to let them go and find a job wherever they can? SL graduates must be ready for the global job market, not just for local jobs. You should stop SL universities teaching useless courses in the first place to have marketable job skills. SL universities are flooded with students in the Arts stream; not necessarily a fault of the students, but schooling system being correct. You are picking a wrong medicine for a wrong disease.

lester Monday, 05 June 2023 01:36 PM

No other country allow this kind of absurdity. they can go an test the waters for 5 years in another country and can come back keep the old job. 30 days no pay they should be out unless its for a illness or care for a family member with health issues

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Govt. likely to review 5-year no-pay leave scheme for public employees to work abroad

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