Employees of the Sri Lanka Ports Authority commenced a strike today (22nd) over having to submit to the PAYE tax while taking sick leave allowance.
Most SLPA employees opt to obtain the allowance instead of taking the sick leave period they are entitled to and since workers who obtain a monthly salary of over Rs. 100,000 are liable for the PAYE tax, they are forced to submit.
However, Port trade unions say they have no role in the strike as the employees are striking on a personal level.
Meanwhile, ‘Lankadeepa’ reports that a high-ranking official of the SLPA has said that they will suspend those who are on strike and will inform the courts of the measure.
The officer has further said that charging tax from the allowance is not a decision of the port authority but it is the tax policy of the government and that it is the government not the SLPA that receives the money slashed in this manner.
He has further said that striking also defies a previous court order stating that no strikes can be held with regard to taxes.
