Sri Lanka’s Power and Energy Ministry’s proposed restructuring of the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) has entered turbulent territory, as trade unions warn that unresolved employee concerns, policy ambiguities, and a rushed implementation timetable could destabilise the country’s power sector.
While the Government maintains that restructuring under the Electricity Act No. 36 of 2024 is essential to modernise the utility and improve efficiency, employee representatives argue that the process has moved ahead without adequate safeguards for workers or national assets. Unions say they have historically supported reforms and cooperated with successive administrations, even during crises, but now feel marginalised in a transition that could permanently alter the institution.
CEB employees played a pivotal role in restoring electricity during recent cyclones and floods, often working continuous shifts in hazardous conditions. Union leaders argue that the Government’s failure to address employee welfare while relying on their emergency response capabilities reflects a widening trust deficit between workers and policymakers.
A central concern is the absence of a legally binding collective agreement guaranteeing existing salaries, allowances, loans, and non-financial benefits before the restructuring is formally gazetted. Trade unions insist that without such assurances, employees face the risk of unilateral benefit reductions once the CEB is fragmented into multiple entities.
Asset management is another grey area. Unions warn that land, substations, vehicles, and infrastructure may be transferred to new companies without a comprehensive audit or valuation. Such haste, they say, could result in the erosion of state-owned assets under the guise of reform, particularly if transparency mechanisms are weak.
The restructuring process has also been criticised for limited employee participation. Key documents, including the Employee Handbook and Preliminary Transfer Plan, were reportedly drafted without structured consultation, raising fears that worker rights, pension security, and provident fund protections may be compromised.
Salary-related grievances continue to fuel discontent. Longstanding anomalies including unresolved disparities from the 2024 salary revision, the exclusion of a temporary Rs. 10,000 allowance from basic pay, and delays in implementing an agreed cost-of-living adjustment remain unaddressed. These issues, unions argue, undermine morale at a time when workforce stability is critical.
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