All Ceylon Health Service Union is threatening trade union action against the government decision to discontinue free meals to approximately 30,000 workers. The union accused the health administration of conspiring against the workers. According to the union the government recently increased the workers’ share of their subsidised meals to Rs. 1,000 a month from Rs. 10.

A union representative insisted that they were opposed to the move. He revealed that the government had indicated that Rs. 1,200 would be paid to workers who declined to accept the new terms. The Southern Provincial Council recently decided to implement this scheme.