On the back of trade concessions from the European Union (EU), trade unions are now lobbying the government to gain right of access to factories with special identity cards and also a 50 per cent share in GSP + gains, among other concerns. In this respect, the trade unions have requested for a stakeholder meeting [...]

The Sunday Times Sri Lanka

Worker rights to be fought post GSP+

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On the back of trade concessions from the European Union (EU), trade unions are now lobbying the government to gain right of access to factories with special identity cards and also a 50 per cent share in GSP + gains, among other concerns.

In this respect, the trade unions have requested for a stakeholder meeting from Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, FTZ workers union leader Anton Marcus told the Business Times on Thursday.

On Wednesday, the local branch IndustriALL, a global collective of trade unions, decided to campaign for 50 per cent of the gains from the GSP + to be passed to the worker from apparel manufacturers.

Mr. Marcus explained that they have already mentioned in their roadmap on the action plan that recommendations made by the International Labour Organisation (ILO) Expert Committee of Freedom of Association need to be adhered to.

The recommendations include reducing to 25 per cent of the workforce from a current 40 per cent as the minimum support required from the workers to set up a union.

He also said Employee Councils in the workplace should not be involved in collective bargaining and also undermine trade union activity.

On Tuesday during a meeting with the BOI Chairman Upul Jayasuriya and trade unions, it was agreed that the authorities will issue identity cards to the trade unions to allow unrestricted access to the factories. At present trade unions need to obtain special permission from the BOI for this purpose.

Earlier this week the EU Ambassador for Colombo and the Maldives said trade unions need to continue lobbying to ensure their demands become a reality.

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