Sri Lankan unions have strongly objected to the entry of a foreign party and the Ministry of Development Strategies and International Trade in labour reforms, saying this is the role of the Labour Department and the Ministry of Labour, and no one else. These objections have been raised in an August 3 letter to S.A. [...]

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Lankan unions oppose USAID entry in labour reforms

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Sri Lankan unions have strongly objected to the entry of a foreign party and the Ministry of Development Strategies and International Trade in labour reforms, saying this is the role of the Labour Department and the Ministry of Labour, and no one else.

These objections have been raised in an August 3 letter to S.A. Nimal Saranathissa, Secretary, Ministry of Labour, Trade Union Relations and Sabaragamuwa Development, by Anton Marcus, Joint Secretary of the Committee Free Trade Zones & General Services Employees’ Union, acting on behalf of its executive committee.

The letter refers to the appointment of a Working Group on Labour Law Reforms and its invitation to Mr. Marcus to serve on this committee and points out that the union was withdrawing from the committee in protest over the involvement of outside parties in labour reforms which is as an unhealthy intervention.

It said the Labour Minister chairing a special meeting of the National Labour Advisory Committee (NLAC) on July 25 informed the NLAC that the Government has decided to appoint a Working Group on Labour Law Reforms and announced the names of representatives nominated to the Working Group.

“Trade union representatives in the NLAC thereafter placed their reservations on representation in the Working Group and the Minister accommodated same. Accordingly the initial number of trade union representation was increased to include the plantation sector and details along with Terms of Reference asked for was also promised. With such acceptance of the Working Group at the NLAC, I (Marcus) consented to be a member of the Working Group, representing workers and their interests,” the letter noted.

It said the Secretary had informed that this labour law reform had been the initiative of the Ministry of Development Strategies and International Trade in collaboration with USAID, a non- governmental agency of the US administration.

This, the union points out, raises very serious doubts as to the intentions and objectives of reforming labour laws of this country. “Everything related to labour and industrial peace and stability is the sole responsibility of the Labour Department and its Ministry. It is the Minister in charge of labour who is mandated and tasked to decide on policy and reforms necessary. There is a tripartite mechanism in place that includes both trade union and employer representation the Minister can work with and have worked with on any such reform, when necessary,” the union complaint says.

It said this decision at the Ministry of Development Strategies and International Trade in collaboration with USAID to reform labour laws, is “clearly a trespassing on the responsibility and authority of the Labour Ministry. Let us state very clearly that neither the Ministry of Development Strategies and International Trade nor the USAID has any right or responsibility to intervene in reforming labour laws in Sri Lanka”.

It said: “We have always participated in reforming and improving labour laws that were deemed necessary and proposed by the Labour Ministry. We participate when employers propose such through the ministry and also when the ILO initiates such dialogues. We remain committed to such endeavours in the future too. Yet this reform process is not one we approve nor accept and therefore wish to inform that as decided at the Executive Committee of our union, we would withdraw from the Working Group on Labour Law Reforms and will not be participating in any of its meetings in the future.”

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