All Ceylon Samurdhi Development Officers and agricultural production assistant officers union states that they would resort to stiff trade union action against the decision to deduct already paid EPF and bonuses from their salary.
8 thousand Samurdhi officers were entitled to EPF and bonus payment before the Samurdhi Authority was absorbed by the public service in 2014.
New Circular states that the officers who were absorbed to public service should pay back the money they claimed as bonus and EPF from the Samurdhi Authority if they want to claim a government pension.
Meanwhile, Samurdhi Director General Saman Priyantha Bandara said that his department will never pay a pension to the absorbed officers who reject to pay back their previous claims to the government.
However, he said that he is ready for discussion with the protestors.
Our attempt to contact the subject minister Daya Gamage failed as he is currently on an overseas trip.
However, Deputy Minister Palitha Thevarapperuma told our news team that he is not aware of the issue.