A global trade unionist yesterday pledged to campaign for the re-instatement of the European GSP+ concessions but at the same time called on the Government to shift its position on several issues such as workers’ and human rights and working environment. Ruik Raina General Secretary of IndustriALL, an international trade union with some 50 million members [...]

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Global TU official pledges to get GSP+ restored

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A global trade unionist yesterday pledged to campaign for the re-instatement of the European GSP+ concessions but at the same time called on the Government to shift its position on several issues such as workers’ and human rights and working environment. Ruik Raina General Secretary of IndustriALL, an international trade union with some 50 million members across 138 countries, told the Sunday Times that the authorities need to address certain issues faced by the local workers with a warning that the ‘world is watching’.

Mr. Raina was in the country earlier this month on a two-day fact-finding mission regarding issues faced by local workers.During his stay he met President Mahinda Rajapaksa, senior labour officials and local trade union leaders.He pledged to pursue Sri Lanka’s GSP+ case with influential stake holders in the European Union (EU) and the European Parliament where some of the current sitting lawmakers are full time members of IndustriAll.

The European GSP+tax concessions were withdrawn in 2010 after the Government failed to rectify certain issues on workers’ and human rights and safe working environments. “One case at point is the arbitrary termination of employment of nearly 300 workers at a multi-national Board of Investment (BOI) approved factory in the Industrial Promotion Zone of Biyagama,” he said.

This factory manufactures surgical rubber and other gloves. Its management has ended the services of the employees owing to their trade union affiliations and refuses to talk with trade union officials to bring about a solution to the issue. “I even took up this particular matter with President Mahinda Rajapaksa and Labour Deputy Minister Sarath Weerasekera with assurances that the case will be addressed accordingly,’’ he said.

Sadly however there is a certain amount of suppression in the country and we appealed to the President to use his high office and address these issues without further delay, Mr. Raina said.

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