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| Friday, 6 February 2004 |
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Maskeliya group correspondent "At the time the sugar and tobacco plantations in Zambia were managed by Government the workers enjoyed better working conditions and enjoyed their rights. But after Globalization programme came into effect the plantations were privatized and are now being managed by small and big private companies. The rights and privileges won by the workers by a long drawn out struggles have now been gradually lost. The present condition is that when the head of the family seeks daily employment in the plantation he is forced to bring his wife and children, thus the bounded labour system is being re-introduced again. Globalization is threatening the future of the workers like a dreadful demon. There is no guarantee that similar things will not happen in the plantation sector in the South Asia including Sri Lanka and elsewhere. In this backdrop fighting Globalization at the national level is not sufficient, there should be concerted efforts at the Regional and International levels. Everyone concerned should make use of the broad based forum created by the World social forum for this purpose. This was stated by Fr. Hendriot head of the Center for Education and Community Development in Zambia, while addressing a workshop organized by the Plantation Sector Social forum at the World Social Forum meeting held recently at Mumbai India. The Plantation Sector Social Forum (PSSF) which was inaugurated just 3 months ago conducted a successful workshop at the World Social Forum (WSF) which was attended by a number of international observers including leaders of number of Trade Unions and Civil organizations in India. Millon Kothari the United Nations Special Representative based in India while speaking at the workshop said, "The Sri Lanka Government is a signatory to the International Convention of Human rights and other International conventions on housing, and therefore bound to follow the provisions of the said conventions. I had visited Sri Lanka recently and had visited the existing housing in the plantation areas and new housing programmes and have directly spoken to the people. I have also attended a workshop at Hatton on the issues of housing of the plantation workers. On the basis of the information collected I am of the view that the housing and housing schemes of the plantation workers in Sri Lanka violates the provisions of the internationally accepted conventions, and norms. This position is unacceptable. I as the special representative of the United Nations have written to Sri Lankan Government on this regard and a reply is expected. Whatever the reply may be, one matter is clear. That the issue of the housing of the plantation workers in Sri Lanka has now become internationalized issue. And the Government cannot ignore the issue anymore. The NGOs and Civil organizations should carry forward this issue as a violation of Human rights. The workshop organized by the PSSF was presided by J. Michael Chairman PREDO and P. Muthulingam Coordinator Institute of Social Development Kandy and Fr. Guy De Fontgalland Coordinator Leo Marga Institute also addressed the workshop. |
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