Health Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva has warned that employees working on casual basis, temporary basis and contract basis in the health sector would be sacked if they participated in the July 10 general strike.
The National Trade Union Centre (NTUC), comprising 366 trade unions, has decided to down tools, demanding a wage increase on July 10.

Minister Silva, foreseeing a dangerous situation in the health sector given the imminent threat issued by the NTUC to strike, has already warned that any attempt to paralyse the health sector by the trade unionists would be dealt with severely.
He directed his officials last week to inform all the casual, temporary and contract workers attached to the health sector not to resort to strike action but to concentrate on curative care services.

The Minister further directed the Hospital Development Committee (HDC) to absorb people from civil society to face any eventuality in case the strike action led to health services coming to a grinding halt.

The Minister made this observation during a meeting he had with Eastern Province Health Minister M.L.A.M. Hisbullah and several other health directors from the east and other provinces.
World Bank (WB) Country Representative Naoko Ishi was present along with the Minister.

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