Representing the ICT industry, Co-Founder and Managing Director of Sysco Labs Sri Lanka, Shanil Fernando highlighted the importance of HR’s role in transforming the workplace into a sanctuary that gives employees peace of mind to do their best work.
He was speaking at the ‘Employing Tomorrow’s HR Today: The CEO’s Perspective’ panel discussion organised by the Association of HR Professionals Sri Lanka (AHRP).
Alluding to the economic crisis, he said: “The country’s key industries, including technology, are experiencing significant attrition at the moment. Collectively, retaining talent has become a major challenge. The primary reason for this migration is the socioeconomic impact of the current economic crisis.
In order to mitigate this, the economic situation must be addressed urgently.
“High public taxes will also compound the problem. The government must take the necessary steps to reduce the burden put on the private sector by introducing significant reforms to non–performing State-Owned Enterprises, avoiding public funds being used to keep loss-making SOEs afloat. Privatisation or listing such enterprises on the stock exchange will allow them to be scrutinised in the same manner as a well-run private company, ensuring true transparency and accountability. As organisations, what we can do is build mechanisms that insulate employees, as much as possible, from the impact of the current economic crisis.