News

Health sector TUs prompt ILO to protect their rights

By Leon Berenger

The International Labour Organisation (ILO) has taken up a complaint by local trade unions involved in the country’s Health sector regarding irregularities and disparities faced by the workers.

In a joint statement by the Health Services Trade Union Alliance (HSTUA), Trade Union Confederation (TUC) and the Government Nursing Officers Association (GNOA), it called on the world body to pressure the Government to adhere to the ILO’s Conventions.

Among a list of allegations made by the unions, the ILO has been asked to intervene on the alleged violations of the workers’ right to engage in legitimate trade union action, intimidation of activists and discriminations in the Health sector owing to personal political affiliations.

Spokesman for the grouping, Anton Marcus told the Sunday Times that the ILO has already taken up the issue with the Committee on Freedom of Association, and that, follow-up action with the Government will follow on a later date.

“We consider these violations to be of a grave and serious nature. The implications of these restrictions by the authorities is a serious threat to workers’ rights, as endorsed by the ILO,” he said. He added that the ILO had informed the group that it was treating the matter with utmost seriousness and the Government in Colombo will be sounded off accordingly towards this end.

Meanwhile, in a related development, the Free Trade Zone Workers Union (FTZWU) has written to the newly appointed Inspector General of Police (IGP) N.K. Illangakoon, on the incidents that took place inside the Zone on May 24 and 30.

“The main purpose of this letter was to keep the issue alive, and explain in detail, what exactly took place on those two days, which eventually resulted in the killing of a young factory hand shot by police,” a spokesman for the FTZWU said yesterday.

Top to the page  |  E-mail  |  views[1]
SocialTwist Tell-a-Friend
 
Other News Articles
Chinese to build luxury port city off Galle Face
C’wealth Secretariat joins the chorus
President insists solution only through PSC
Lanka rejects Tamil Nadu demand
Hundreds affected by viral fever epidemic
Court orders Prisons Chief to produce medical report on Fonseka
Ekneligoda habeas corpus case on Aug.23
ASP donates compensation to Castle Street Hospital
New postings at Police Department
Galle Road diversion for Hikkaduwa tourism zone
A drugged nation
Private bus operators to strike from midnight today; some to defy
Residents fear landfill will lead to flooding
Chief Medical Officer comments on fumigation campaign
Witness: Police blocked and attacked vehicle taking Roshen to hospital
FUTA may go for an interim solution though unhappy
Complainant attacked at Wakf Board meeting
Lunch in a packet: What’s in that mouthful?
Lanka a hub for sea horse and sea cucumber smuggling
Schoolgirl collapses with heart attack in bus
Crocodile park in Muthurajawela
Domestic in Saudi alleges employer blinded her
Health sector TUs prompt ILO to protect their rights
Addressing the painful past as honest friends
Hotel boom spells doom say islanders
Wild animals get their own hospital
Bricks, sand, cement, pirith and a shelter over their heads
Govt. sponsored dengue
Police leadership: The good times and bad
Teen call-girl racket from North busted
Taxman delays paying dues

 

 
Reproduction of articles permitted when used without any alterations to contents and a link to the source page.
© Copyright 1996 - 2011 | Wijeya Newspapers Ltd.Colombo. Sri Lanka. All Rights Reserved | Site best viewed in IE ver 8.0 @ 1024 x 768 resolution