Nov 09, Colombo: Sri Lanka's Marxist party Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) affiliated National Trade Union Center (NTUC) says the working people have been deceived by the government since their demand for a fair salary hike has been ignored.

The NTUC says the government has failed to address the demand by the working masses.

JVP Politburo member and NTUC Head, K.D. Lal Kantha said that although the government claims to have granted a minimum salary hike of Rs. 1,500 to a state sector employee, that amount would only be received by September 2013.

"The government says it would first grant an incentive payment of Rs. 750 to all state sector employees. Then the government is to give Rs. 375 by next May and another Rs. 375 by September. That is how the government would be paying Rs. 1,500," he explained.

He claimed that the amount is not even enough to buy two packets of milk.

Lal Kantha says the working people would get Rs. 1,500 only two months before the 2014 budget and the cost of living would increase by next September making the Rs. 1,500 allowance insufficient.

The 2013 budget presented to the parliament by President Mahinda Rajapaksa has granted a monthly allowance of minimum Rs 1,500 for every public servant which includes a Cost of Living allowance of Rs 750.