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Miners to get pension for first time

05 Mar 2021

  • Loans for jewellery makers too in offing

  In what would be a landmark development for the mining industry in Sri Lanka, the National Gem and Jewellery Authority (NGJA) is planning to introduce a contributory pension scheme for miners and small business holders in the gem mining industry, The Morning learnt. NGJA Director General Harsha Iluppitiya told The Morning that the Authority is formulating regulations to implement a pension scheme for both gem miners and small business owners in the industry in order to ensure the longevity of the industry. “The problem with miners or labourers in the gem industry is that there are both people who do it as a livelihood and those who do it as a temporary occupation. We are currently evaluating our surveys to determine those who mine as a livelihood and to include them in the pension scheme,” said Iluppitiya. Speaking to The Morning, Secretary to the State Ministry of Gem and Jewellery-related Industries S.M. Piyatissa said that gem miners receive only a daily wage in addition to the percentage from the sale of large gems they receive from mine owners. “This is why the pension scheme is necessary,” said Piyatissa. Furthermore, Piyatissa said that a loan scheme for jewellery makers generationally engaged in the industry is currently being discussed with the banking industry, as the needs of jewellery makers have traditionally been neglected. “Bank of Ceylon has already agreed to provide up to Rs. 10 million for jewellery makers, with a plan of allocating 75% as working capital and 25% to invest in equipment,” said Piyatissa. Piyatissa further said that this would be implemented from district to district, starting from next month. Although the gem mining industry is one of the country’s largest sources of income and employment, the income gap between labourers and mine owners has also been widely acknowledged, which has given rise to socioeconomic problems such as the lack of savings for labourers in their old age.


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