(COLOMBO, LANKAPUVATH) –Co-Cabinet Media Spokesman Minister Bandula Gunawardana says a decision has been reached to reopen post offices on Saturdays.
The decision was reached following discussions held with representatives of postal trade unions.
The Post Master General had previously issued directives to close post offices on Saturdays with the aim of reducing state expenditure.
However postal trade unions launched strike action in protest against the move.
Speaking during the weekly Cabinet media briefing Minister Gunawardana however said a decision was reached to open post offices on Saturdays based on the agreement that employees’ allowance and overtime allowance for Saturdays will be reduced.
The Minister said accordingly an agreement was reached to reduce the special allowance for Saturdays by 20% and to reduce 20% of all overtime allowances.
Minister Gunawardana stated postal trade unions had understood the financial situation of the government, as the government had to spend Rs.21 million per day to pay salaries and overtime allowances in order to keep post offices open on Saturdays.
