Sept 02, Colombo: Sri Lanka's Marxist party Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) affiliated National Trade Union Center (NTUC) is to commence discussions today with other trade unions regarding the actions to be taken to win the demand of salary increments for the working masses.

An NTUC spokesperson told ColomboPage that the first discussion with other trade unions would be held this afternoon.

The spokesperson said the NTUC would discuss and launch a combined trade union action to win the Rs. 8,000 salary increment for the public sector employees and similar increments to the private and estate sector employees.

The NTUC has stated that given the current increase in the cost of living, salaries of a public sector employee needed to be increased at least by Rs. 8,000.

"The government is trying to side step from the issue of salary increments by speaking of rectifying salary anomalies. We will however fight to win a salary increment for the working masses, together with other trade unions," the senior NTUC official said.

The government has said that the proposed salary increment of Rs. 2,500 will be included in the 2011 budget to be presented in November this year.