The government has reached a decision to ease restrictions imposed on public sector workers taking up employment overseas.
Accordingly, the new circulars will be issued amending the existing provisions to enable public sector workers to obtain no-pay leave for a maximum of five years without affecting their seniority and pension for employment or other productive work overseas.
The proposal in this regard was tabled by the Minister of Public Administration, Home Affairs, Provincial Councils and Local Government Dinesh Gunawardena, considering the prevailing economic situation.
Under the existing provisions, a state official is entitled to a maximum of five years of no-pay leave during his tenure for study or foreign employment however a majority of public officers were reportedly not interested in taking such leave due to non-inclusion of the period in the calculation of pensions, due to the impact on seniority and other conditions.
