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Inefficiency in Sri Lanka's Government Service Causes Challenges for Human Resource Management

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  Introduction In the Sri Lankan economy, both the private sector and the public sector make significant contributions to achieving the country's development targets. There, direct government intervention is evident in key sectors of the economy. That is, basic services such as electricity, transportation, communication, health, and education are provided under government intervention. However, in the past few decades, this government intervention has been ineffective, and it has also created challenges for Human Resource Management. It means that delayed processes, outdated procedures, and unutilized skills also negatively impacted the Human Resources Management. The Sri Lankan Public Sector has often been criticized for being overstaffed, inefficient, and a burden to the economy (Jayasena S D N S., Rajasekara Jay., Wenkai Li., 2023 ).   Discussion Due to inefficiency, the following challenges are raised to the Human Resources Management. 1.    ...

How Unfair Tax Policies Impact the Morale of Private Sector Workers

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  Introduction A country’s tax policy is crucial for its economic goals. It directly affects the economy. A country’s tax revenue comes from two sources: direct taxes and indirect taxes. Taxes on individuals' income are direct taxes. When collecting these taxes, it must be fair to both the country and the taxpayers. Currently, a large part of this direct tax revenue comes from people working in the private sector. Therefore, having a favorable tax policy for them is essential. The current absence of supportive tax policies for private sector employees creates challenges for Human Resources Management in Sri Lanka. Discussion According to the current tax policy, anyone earning more than Sri Lankan Rupees One Hundred Fifty Thousand a month must pay income tax. Private sector employees face challenges because they have to pay a large part of their income to the government as taxes. The personal relief that can be deducted when calculating the taxable income of an individual, w...

Political Influence as a Major HRM Challenge in the Government Sector

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  Introduction Human Resource Management is the heart of any government sector. However, in many countries, including Sri Lanka, the effectiveness of HRM is often challenged by various external influences. One of the most significant problems is the influence of politics, which directly affects new recruitment, staff promotions, staff transfers, and the overall decision-making process in public institutions. The government sector lost its transparency from the HRM side due to the issue mentioned above. Following Sri Lanka's independence, the public service became noticeably politicized due to the 1972 Constitution. This issue was further highlighted in the 1978 Constitution. However, the 1978 Constitution included several measures aimed at ensuring the public service remains independent and free from political influence. Nonetheless, in reality, we still do not observe this independence today (Dilshani T., 2022). In emerging and less developed nations, the influence of politi...

The Importance of Maintaining a Policy on Discrimination and Harassment in the Sri Lankan Banking Sector

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  Introduction The Sri Lankan banking sector is one of the most important pillars of the economy, with thousands of employees, diverse customers, and a strong regulatory framework. Banks play a crucial role in shaping professional standards across the nation. In today's professional institutions, all banks believe in high standards of ethical and professional behavior and expect all to respect them in order to create a friendly workplace to conduct their business. Also, policy on discrimination and harassment is not just a corporate requirement; it is a necessity for ethical banking, public trust, and long-term stability. What is Discrimination The banks recognize and distinguish all staff members solely based on knowledge, skills, contribution, and attitude. Therefore, discrimination at work means bias and unfair treatment based on gender, race, ethnicity, religion, cultural or social differences.   What is Harassment Harassment could be largely defined as an action...

How Low Wages and Poor Working Conditions Affect Employee Performance in Sri Lanka’s Tea Industries

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Introduction The Sri Lankan tea industry is the most famous in the world. It means there is a special market for the brand in the “Ceylon Tea” market. unfortunately, there is a hidden story behind this industry in Sri Lanka. Even though they contribute to earning foreign exchange for Sri Lanka, its workers often face low wages and poor living conditions. Today, this is negatively affecting the workers and our tea industry. Low wages and their impact Tea plantation workers in Sri Lanka earn low wages. Today, their daily wage is LKR 1,700. The business claims that the government's order to raise worker salaries from 1,000 rupees to 1,700 rupees ($5.66) per day will result in a 45% rise in the cost of producing tea. (Jayasinghe U., 2024) . This amount does not meet their basic needs. Even with occasional increases, their salary often falls short of the rising cost of living. As a result, they struggle to afford enough food, health care, and quality education for their children. This ...