The Employees’ Trust Fund Board has introduced a Housing Loan Scheme for ETF members who have a minimum of five years membership. They will be entitled to obtain loans from Rs. 250,000/= to one million at a low interest rate of 14.5 percent bringing the total number of ETF member benefits to seven.

The Housing Loan Scheme commenced on June 17, 2002 and so far has received little publicity, according to Mrs. Asoki Wickramasinghe, the manager of the ETF Board’s Benefit Administration unit.

The provisions of the ETF Act No. 46 of 1980 cover all semi-government establishments, corporations, universities statutory bodies and private sector enterprises. Those self-employed and migrant workers are also privileged to become members of the ETF on a voluntary basis. All employers to whom the Act applies pay three percent of the total monthly gross earnings of the employees to the Fund on or before the last day of the succeeding month.

Self-employed and migrant workers desirous of becoming a member of the Fund and continue to remain so as long as there is a sum to the credit of his/her individual account in the Fund.

Employees on whose behalf contributions are received regularly are considered active members of the ETF, and are eligible to receive all the facilities offered under the benefit schemes of the fund. Employees on whose behalf contributions are not remitted to the fund on account of termination of employment etc. are considered as inactive members.

All members of the fund, whether active or inactive, are entitled to withdraw the fund balance with interest and dividends.

Active member enjoy free life insurance on a 24-hour basis, permanent disability insurance up to Rs. 150,000 and Rs. 100,000 for heart surgery, Rs. 25,000/= per annum for hospitalisation (Shramasuwa Rekawarana), re-imbursement of cost of intra-occular lens implanted after cateract surgery, scholarships for children who pass their year five examination with merit on a district-wise basis and now, the Housing Loan Scheme.

Inquiries on how to apply for these benefits could be obtained from the ETF Board head office on the first floor of the Labour Secretariat at Narahenpita, or from any of its Regional Offices located at Badulla, Galle, Gampaha, Hatton, Kalutara, Kandy, Kegalle, Kurunegala, Matara and Ratnapura.