Around 21 trade unions attached to Sri Lanka Telecom (SLT) PLC yesterday said that over 90 percent of the staff is presently engaged in trade union actions initiated on August 2 and added that customer service processes are currently non-operational.
Representing 21 trade unions of the SLT, the All Employees’ Union of Information and Telecommunication (AEUIT) Chairman J. P. Gurusinghe at a media briefing yesterday alleged that corruption and mismanagements have increased drastically since the privatization of the establishment.
“We will continue our trade union actions until authorities responsible take necessary action against the large amounts of financial irregularities, mismanagement and labour exploitation carried out by a subsidiary attached to SLT,” he pointed out.
Among the trade unions’ main demands is the cancellation of operations of SLT’s newly established subsidiary – SLT Manpower Solutions which the trade unionists claim is exploiting labour and deteriorates the service standards of SLT.
“The employees at SLT Manpower Solutions are not recruited according to standard recruitment procedures of the company, and the workers are paid very low wages.”
According to its website, SLT Manpower Solutions (Pvt) Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of Sri Lanka Telecom PLC, is a service organization in the business of empowering jobseekers and companies, by finding the right people at the right time for the right jobs which allows its client organizations to focus on their core businesses.
According to Gurusinghe, severe financial irregularities have been occurring at SLT over the past few years.
“The importation of low quality equipment and cables has incurred heavy losses for the company. Also, the mismanagement of the importations has also caused heavy financial losses. For example, the SLT IPTV department had to pay a sum of Rs. 326 million as fines to the Sri Lanka Customs as a result of their carelessness,” he said.
Pointing out several other mismanagements, the trade unions said that the Voice-Over IP department in SLT which generated a daily income of Rs. 2 million is currently non operational. “There are certain top officials in the company whose transport allowance is higher than their basic salary. Why is it that the basic facilities provided to the workers not upgraded and certain benefits are enjoyed only by a selected group of top officials?” he questioned.
Work continues-SLT CEO
In a Stock Exchange filing last morning, SLT said that 19 trade unions affiliated to the firm are presently engaged in union action. However the disclosure signed by SLT CEO Greg Young assured that the company continues to maintain services to its valued customers.
It also noted, in order to safeguard the best interest of the company, the working staff and customers obtained a court order on August 5 preventing the trade union s from engaging in any strike action in the SLT premises, causing damages to any properties belonging to the firm and threatening and intimidating of non-strike employees.
The filing said these trade unions are engaging in union action despite negotiations to grant concessions.
As per March 31, 2011, 49.5 percent of SLT is owned by the Secretary to the Treasury and 44.98 percent by Malaysia’s Global Telecommunication Holdings, a subsidiary of Usaha Tegas, a company controlled by billionaire Ananda Krishnan.
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