Sri Lankan trade union leader Anton Marcus has been nominated for this year’s Solidar Silver Rose Award for his commitment and courage in defending the rights of workers in the face of tremendous pressure from both government and employers, a global union said.

Anton Marcus is the General Secretary of the Free Trade Zones & General Services Employees Union of Sri Lanka. The nomination has been submitted by the Brussels-based International Textile, Garment and Leather Workers’ Federation (ITGLWF). The Silver Rose is awarded annually by the NGO network Solidar to celebrate the outstanding achievements of individuals and organisations who are active in the fight for social justice.

ITGLWF General Secretary Neil Kearney said in the statement that Anton Marcus is a staunch defender of worker rights in what are very difficult times in Sri Lanka. “Trade liberalisation in our sectors is wreaking havoc with job security, wages and working conditions while on the wider front the erosion of the peace process is endangering democratic freedoms.

In the face of these pressures, Anton has worked unwaveringly to turn the tide against rights’ abuses in the workplace and against the government’s attempts to suppress the right of freedom of association,” the statement said.