Leaders urged to take politically challenging decisions required to remedy labour shortage
Sri Lanka’s leaders need to make politicallychallenging decisions to address the labour shortage that has become a crucial issue in the country, while being sensitive to the needs of the people, a State minister said.
“As a young leader I’m willing to take decisions. I don’t mind facing repercussions. Because I know that 90 percent of what I’m doing is right.
You have to have that conviction,” International Trade State Minister Sujeewa Senasinghe yesterday told a panel discussion themed ‘Bringing Foreign Workers to Sri Lanka: Is it a viable option’ organised by International Chamber of Commerce Sri Lanka (ICCSL).
Senasinghe pointed out that due to Sri Lanka’s education system, poor salary, lack of required qualifications, social perception of certain careers and island mentality have led to lower worker participation or underemployment.
IPS Research Director, Dr. Nisha Arunatilake pointed out that there are 497,302 vacancies across industry, services and plantation sectors that need to be filled.
“The labour force growth has been slowing down and it’s estimated to decline from 2030 onwards and less people will be participating in the economy,” she noted.
Senasinghe stressed that Sri Lanka’s education system is mainly to be blamed for the labour shortage. He said that the examination-oriented system needs to be changed to much practical system similar to Singapore.
He also pointed out that opening up certain sectors for foreign workers would create competition increasing the overall productivity.
“With a delicate balance, initially certain people maybe be affected, in the long run it will be beneficial to the country.”
Drawing lessons from the Sri Lanka Singapore Free Trade Agreement, he said foreign workers should be allowed in the country in a gradual manner.
“We know what’s best for the country. but sometimes we have to be sensitive towards the needs of certain groups of people as well. You can’t bring changes all of a sudden as certain sectors would be affected overnight,” he said.