Hemas receives 1SO 9001 for its products

Hemas Manufacturing (Pte) Ltd., one of the top players in the local personal care products market, has been awarded ISO 9001: 1994 certification by the Sri Lanka Standards Institution (SLSI), in recognition of stringent quality control from design to production and final inspection of the company's products.

The company is the first personal care products manufacturer in Sri Lanka to receive ISO 9001 accreditation, and is also the only company with this status in the Fast Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) sector, a company release said.

"This is a significant milestone for Hemas and our markets," Mr. Esufally said, explaining that unlike the ISO 9002 certification, which covers only production, installation and servicing, the ISO 9001 accreditation covers the full gamut of the manufacturing process, from quality assurance in design, development, production, installation and servicing.

He said the ISO 9001 certification would provide tremendous stature to the company's range of baby care products, oral, hair, skin, and beauty care products and fragrances many of which already enjoy leadership positions in the local market.

"The inclusion of design in the certification process contributes very significantly to ensuring that the products are of an international standard," Mr. Esufally stressed.

"A company that conforms to ISO 9001 requirements is assured of consistency in its products, batch after batch," Hemas Manufacturing Commercial Director Felix Dias said. "This will be a definite advantage in marketing our brands." He said that the assured customer satisfaction would increase the market share of the company's products.

Among the most popular brands manufactured by Hemas are the Baby Cheramy range of cologne, cream, talcum powder and soap in the baby care sector, Clogard toothpaste and toothbrushes in oral care, Kumarika and Supersoft shampoo and Dandex anti-dandruff shampoo in hair care, Pro-sport cologne in male fragrances, Capri, Images, Goya and Paris perfume in the female fragrances range and Naturelle cream in skin care.

In the baby care products and female fragrances market, Hemas occupies top spot, while Clogard toothpaste and Kumarika shampoo are close contenders for market leadership positions.

The receipt of ISO 9001 accreditation would also lend impetus to the company's export drive, Mr. Esufally said. It would also help develop international markets and provide impetus for the global business strategy of the company, he added. Many of the products in the Baby Cheramy range and Clogard toothpaste are already exported to the Middle East and the Maldives.

Worldview to train managers of 2000

The Worldview Institute will begin a training programme in August aimed at training persons in skills needed to manage business in 2000.

This institute is a fraternity of Worldview Global Media Limited an associate organisation of the Worldview International Foundation who has consultative status with the United Nations.

The Worldview Institute is geared to foster the development of people and will build a bank of trained innovative persons equipped with the management skills to steer organisations and manage business challenges into the year 2000 and beyond.

The Institute will cater to students, both, at elementary level and those with a basic background in Management who are aspiring for a career and professional advancement.

It will train them with a curriculum of studies that focuses on the two principle dimensions of highly effective people, personal and interpersonal effectiveness.

Its mission is to provide high quality academic progress that will successfully prepare these individuals for entry-level management positions of increasing responsibility in the Public and Private sectors. The goals of the Worldview Institute that follow from this misssion are to:

• Provide quality instruction and develop innovative academic programmes.

• Conduct research that is the application of existing knowledge to problem solving or the creation of new knowledge.

The agenda developed at the Institute leads participants on a definite career path from the elementary or mid-management level to an internationally recognised qualification.

The Institute aims to provide a total academic solution to fulfil the aspirations of young people in the country, beginning with a certificate course which provides the fundamenatals of Business Skills, which progressively leads to a Diploma in Business Management recognised by the Institute of Management Specialists UK.

It also qualifies them entry to the BA (Hons) BBA (Hons) programmes at the University of Lincolnshire & Humberside UK, where on successful completion of the BA/BBA, prospects could enter the MBA agenda at the University. The MBA is the academic passport to Senior Management placement in any public or private sector organisation.

Another distinctive feature of the Worldview Institute is that the lecture panel is selected on the basis of 'hands on' professional expertise in various fields of management discipline and also experience in adult training techniques.

Director of Studies is Achilles Joseph a professional HR Trainer and retired DIG, SL Police. He was at one time in charge of the Police Higher Training Institute. He will manage the study programmes in addition to providing student counselling.

He is also the Director of Studies at the Institute of Personal Management as well as a consultant trainer in Interpersonal relationships to many local and Multinational Organisations.

The Worldview Institute is an associate organisation of Young Asia Televison, Media Solutions and Pan Lanka Limited.

Business Diary

July 31 and August 1:

A two-day workshop on the art of Managing and Developing people for results-oriented performance in marketing, organised by the Sri Lanka Institute of Marketing at the Hotel Galadari, from 8.15 a.m. to 5.30 p.m. each day.

Those who would most benefit from this workshop are Marketing and Sales Managers responsible for managing and developing people, to achieve effective performance and results for their organisations.

The workshop will cover defining the job and a brief overview of what job evalution is all about, recruitment and the selection process, motivating for achievement, establishing an effective performance appraisal system, the appraisal process and the feedback loop, remuneration system, identifying training and development needs, designing training programmes, measuring impact of training on performance, and disciplinary procedure and termination.

Arjuna Ranatunga Fund launched

The Arjuna Ranatunga Trust Fund for the development and enhancement of cricket in Sri Lanka was 'opened' by Blue Diamond Jewellery Worldwide and Cargills Food City with the launch of the Foreverset Range Cricket Jewellery by Blue Diamonds Jewellery Worldwide Ltd.

The launch was attended by Daya Senanayake - Deputy Chairman Ceylinco Consolidated and Managing Director of Blue Diamonds Jewellery Worldwide, A.T.P.Edirisinghe, Director Ceylon Theatres Group, Ranjith Page, Managing Director Cargills Food City and the management of Blue Diamonds Jewellery and Cargills Food City.

Special invitees Aravinda de Silva, Sanath Jayasuriya, Stephen Fleming and Chris Cairns were present to support their colleague Arjuna Ranatunga in his effort to collect funds to build a hostel and training centre for rural cricketers.

Mrs. Scicille Kotelawela unveiled the Foreverset Cricket Jewellery range at the launch which was held on July 6. The cricket range is being made available to the public at a very special introductory price and it consists of pendants and tie chains manufactured in 18kt. gold set with diamonds using the clear carbonlokd setting process.

The Foreverset range of Cricket Jewellery includes a pendant that has been autographed by Arjuna Ranatunga. This will be sold as a limited edition and numbered to ensure that we do not exceed the set number.

Blue Diamonds Jewellery has pledged to donate Rs. 1 million to the Arjuna Ranatunga Trust Fund through the sales of the Foreverset range of Cricket Jewellery by donating US$ 5 from the sale of every item of jewellery sold.

Thereafter the invitees proceeded to the Food City Supermarket at Majestic City to launch the special 'Food City Cricket Promotion. Food City has given their customers an opportunity to win diamond studded cricket jewellery from the Foreverset Range.

The promotion also enables Food City shoppers to donate US$ 10 towards the Arjuna Ranatunga Trust Fund for the development and enhancement of Cricket in Sri Lanka by purchasing items of cricket jewellery.

Gateway opens another branch

Another branch of Gateway Kids School of Computing was opened at premises No. 9, Rodney Street, Colombo 8 recently.

Prof. V. K. Samaranayake, Chairman, Computer and Information Technology Council of Sri Lanka (CINTEC) said he was pleased at the inauguration of Gateway Kids School of Computing which is bound to play a major role in preparing young Lankans to face 21st century's challenges.Gateway Kids School of Computing has its Head Office at Gothami Road, Colombo 8 and a branch at Havelock Road, Colombo 5. The school has over 1000 students at present in the age group of 4 to 14 years.

The training at Gateway is based on the British National Curriculum for Information Technology. Certificates are awarded at various stages by the International Curriculum & Assessment Agency (ICAA) of the United Kingdom and also by the University of London. Students are thereafter are prepared for London O/L and A/L examinations.

Appointments

Industrial relations Forum

Q1: To what category does the following personal come under Wages Board Ordinance or shop & office employee's acts?

1.Production Manager, 2. Assistant Production Manager, 3. Engineer, 4. Factory Engineer, 5. Assistant Engineer, 6. Production Executive, 7. Supervisors, 8. Stores Manager, 9. Stores Executives, 10. Assistant Stores Manager

The Wages Board ordinance makes provision to ensure certain terms such as minimum wage, holidays, leave and overtime rates, of Manual and operative grade workers in the trade wage board has been established. Therefore the employees named above are not covered by the wages board ordinance. However, the ordinance is applicable even to the executives regarding payments and deductions, wage period, wage record, and Poya holidays. The shop and office employees act is applicable to above employees if most of their functions are of office or managerial nature. In general the above employees do not come under the Wages Board ordinance or shop and office employees act

Q2: If an employee works over 8 hours on a Sunday/ Statutory holiday, how should he be paid? Please explain under wages board ordinance (Rubber Manufacturing) and shop and office employees act.

If the lieu leave is granted then what is the over rate for first 8 hours and after 8 hours for Sunday/ Statutory holiday. Please explain under wages board ordinance (Rubber Manufacturing Trade) and shop and office employees act.

i) A shop and office employee engaged after 8 hours on a Sunday is entitled to 2 _ times overtime and if engaged on a statutory holiday a day's lieu leave or a day's wages should be paid. It is illegal to employ them beyond the normal working hours on a statutory holiday.

ii) Employees in Rubber manufacturing trade are entitled for 1 _ times overtime and a days lieu leave for working on a Sunday and to receive, overtime at two times after 8 hours on Sunday and if engaged on a statutory holiday 2 times overtime and a days lieu leave should be granted. There is no provision made to employ them beyond 8 hours (exclusive of meal interval) on a statutory holiday.

Q3: I joined a public "private" company as an English Typist almost at inception. Several others who joined later have been given at Company expense further skills such as computer typing, which I have not learned, by myself. Yes, possibly on account of being an office bearer in an in house employees association. There is obvious discrimination in that I am not assigned any work. Even when a fellow typist retired, I was not posted to his place. Being an English typist with skills of handling general routine correspondence, the sinecure to which I am forced is both disgusting and frustrating. In the event I resign from services on account of this discrimination do I entitle myself to a compensation for loss of my balance career? Could this be construed as constructive dismissal?

P.S. - I am 60 years of age – My retirement is at age 65.

Your problem is that you have not been given any work as an English Typist and training facilities has not been extended to you. It is not possible for you to take up this as constructive dismissal unless you have sufficient evidence to establish before a L.T. that you have not been assigned any typing work to perform as a Typist.

Q4: After all relevant interviews can an Employer recruit an employee without giving a written intimation to the Employee? (Is, merely giving a telephone call to come to work, acceptable?)

The Employer has the sole right to recruit an employee. It is his discretion to select anybody he considered as suitable. He can communicate with the selected person, over the phone, or any other method and request to report for work.

Q5: Should the employer produce the letter of appointment to the Employee on the very first day of working?

According to our labour law only shop/office employees should be issued with a letter of appointment. The employer should issue the letter of appointment to a shop/office employee on assumption of duties, informing his terms and conditions.

Q6: If the employer does not issue a letter of appointment, what action can an employee take?

As indicated above only the shop and office employees can make a complaint to the commissioner of labour if the letter of appointment is not issued to them. Others have no legal right to demand a letter of appointment.

Q7: Some employers retain the original certificates of the employees in their possession, saying, that is a company policy. Can employers do it?

You have a right to retain the original certificates and hand over a certified copy of the originals to Employer.

Q8: I was an employee in the Ceylon Transport Board, Batticaloa Depot with effect from 08.12.1958 and went on Compulsory retirement with effect from 27.10.1997. In between, Eastern Region Transport Board, Batticaloa Depot was peoplised with effect from 15.07.1993 and I became an employee of the Batticaloa Passenger Transport Services Ltd. with effect from 15.07.1993. I was absorbed into the Peoplised Depot. There was no break in my services up to the time of retirement.

My service in the C.T.B is from 08.12.58 to 15.07.93 = 34 yrs.7mths.

My service in the Peoplised Depot 15.07.93 to 27.10.97 = 4yrs. 4mths Total of…. 38yrs & 11mths.

Am I eligible for gratuity payment after peoplisation up to the time of Compulsory retirement i.e. from 15.07.93 to 27.10.97?

Gratuity is paid for uninterrupted services over 5 years. As your services has not been interrupted between 8/12/58 to 27/10/97, you are entitled for gratuity for the period of 15/7/93 to 27/10/97. You can make a complaint to the Asst. Commissioner of labour of your district regarding this issue.

Correction

With reference to the answer of question 01(f) of last week's issue that the Factories (First aid) regulation 1980 has been amended by Factory (First Aid ) regulation No 01 of 1995.We wish to thank Mr. U.M. Karunaratne Rtd Deputy Commissioner of Labuor for drawing our attention to the above amendmens

Our answer for the question 02(e) of last week, the workman's compensation Ordienece should be deleted.

Due to the confidential nature of the queries sent us we do not publish the names & addresses of the senders. Also we do not reply any letters by post individually.

Please do not hesitate to write in to us about any problems you may come across regarding employment. Our expert on employment matters may advise you on any such issues. Our address is :

"Industrial Relations Forum", C/O Sunday Times, No 47 , W.A.D. Ramanayake Mw. Colombo.12 Fax no.448323,423921. E.mail. Wnlgen@wijeya.lk

SEC promotes awareness in stock market

By Feizal Samath

Sri Lanka's Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the country's stock market watchdog, is pushing ahead with a public awareness and promotion campaign on the advantages of investing in the stock market, SEC officials said. On the education side, students are also a target group, the officials said.

Conscious of depressed market conditions in Colombo which is in keeping with regional trends, the officials said that this was the time that more promotion was needed of the Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) and an awareness of the benefits of putting money in equities and debt instruments.

The Colombo Stock Exchange, with the help of the SEC, is currently working out a marketing plan to develop the marketplace. SEC chairman Dr Wimal Hettiarachchi, a former senior Central Bank official who once headed the research department, said that last year a TV quiz programme was organised for senior students on stocks.

He said the SEC had also undertaken a survey to find out why private companies are reluctant to go public and seek listings on the stock exchange. The data that was collected from this survey was very interesting, expressing the anxieties and concerns of private firms.

SEC Director-General Kumar Paul said that the authorities were going ahead with development and improved infrastructure of the markets despite a downturn in the markets.

"That must go on in spite of current adverse trading conditions." He said that, with the corporate debt market picking up, strategies were on to develop and promote this market. Initially a few debt issues came into the market - LOLC, Vanik and Overseas Realty Ltd - followed by many more.

Paul said with the debt market taking off, what was required now is a credit rating agency that can rate issues. The Central Bank was working on allowing a rating agency to be set up later this year but

Paul noted that it would take at least three to four years for such an institution to be recognised by investors. The development of a secondary market for debt instruments is also a must with the emergence of primary debt issues.

Paul said that the SEC was in talks with the Unit Trust Association - unit trusts like NAMAL that have banded into an association to promote their interests and that of the industry - to launch an awareness programme on unit trusts.

"Few people still are aware of what unit trusts are and the public needs to be informed in simple terms what this instrument is all about and its advantages," he said.

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