TUs to protest against govt. dilly-dallying tactics
Private sector-led trade unions are planning to file complaints with the European Union (EU) against the government’s dilly-dallying tactics to reconstitute the National Labour Advisory Council (NLAC) and other proposed labour law reforms that contravene internationally accepted worker rights binding on Sri Lanka as well.
Discussions are being held between authorities and the EU on the new GSP + scheme that will enable Sri Lankan exporters to export more than 7000 products under zero duty to EU member countries for a period of 10 years commencing 2024.
FTZ and General Services Trade Union Secretary General Anton Marcus told the Business Times on Friday that they will be submitting a joint complaint with 11 other trade unions to highlight the issues pertaining to the government’s continued delay in holding the NLAC meetings between employers and trade unions.
This is vital in addressing the issues between workers and companies. The last NLAC meeting was held on December 13, 2022.
Mr. Marcus pointed out that the government in an attempt to reconstitute the NLAC is trying to sideline the independent trade unions and ensure that trade unions with political party affiliations be brought into the council. He pointed out that the government has stated they intend on reconstituting the NLAC based on the membership strength of the trade unions. Moreover, he believes the authorities want to include public sector trade unions to participate in the NLAC meetings. The concern here is that public sector trade unions may tow the government line at all times and also that the NLAC is mainly a body that gives space for the private sector workers issues to be addressed.
Other key issues that the trade unions will complain against are the proposal by the Employers’ Federation to grant employers Hire and Fire Rights that would not call for employers to obtain permission from the Labour Commissioner when firing workers.
Mr. Marcus pointed out that this would cause concern among those holding positions within the companies with trade union affiliation as the employers will be given the discretion to fire them whenever they please.
One of the conditions within the GSP + scheme is the Freedom of Association and Bargain Collective based on the ILO Conventions 87 and 98, he said.
Moreover, some of the proposals for labour law reforms have called for the removal of the protection of rights of female workers that goes against the Protection of Female Employees Convention including the adoption of night work without special concessions in this respect, Mr. Marcus explained.
He noted that 11 trade unions have already filed complaints with the International Labour Organisation (ILO) and will be sending a further update on the concerns relating to the reconstitution of the NLAC.
He noted that their main aim in doing so is to ensure that labour rights are guaranteed to Sri Lankan workers not just in law but in practice as well.
The EU is the second largest export market for Sri Lanka with a value of US$3 billion in 2022 with apparel exports dominating the export basket with a 54 per cent share of total exports in that year. The other key export products are pneumatic tyres, tea, articles of apparel, tobacco and liquid coconut milk.
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