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| Saturday, 1 May 2004 |
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President wishes working class strength and courage President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga in her May Day message wished the working class the strength and courage to organise themselves to meet the challenges confronting the establishment of a stable Government upholding people's democratic aspirations. The President in her message said: "On this International Labour Day, I send out my warm greetings to the entire working population in Sri Lanka and felicitations also to the organised working class who celebrate another May Day in solidarity with the workers of the world. This time we celebrate May Day at a specific moment of victory when vast majority workers of this country have ushered in a new Government. In other words, this year we have reason to celebrate with the arrival of a people friendly government. The working class of this country has installed the new Government in office with great expectations. I know personally that they did for the single purpose of protecting and further consolidating the rights they have won at the cost of their blood, sweat and tears. Their aspirations are to secure a living wage, have access to new avenues of employment and establish a robust economy. At the same time, they expect peace with dignity, one which respects the equal rights of all communities. They have placed confidence in good governance where law and order prevails. They have rejected fraud and corruption and expect the fraudsters to face punitive action. Further, we are expected to stop political victimisation and compensate the victimise. The rights of the workers need to be broadened. Several Acts such as the Factories Ordinance and the Industrial Disputes Acts need amendment. Action has to be taken to suspend decisions taken by the previous government to abolish the Wages Boards and to appoint New Wages Boards. The rights of expatriate workers especially the rights of women need to be protected and secured. All these policies were placed before the people by the UPFA in its manifesto. I, as the leader of the UPFA and the President of this country emphatically state that it is the responsibility of the Government to fulfil the pledges that we have given to the working people. "On the other hand, we have to overcome the adverse impact of the global capitalism. It is essential that the working community of a developing country such as Sri Lanka should adopt some course of action jointly with the international movement to face this danger. The need to curb adverse influences of globalisation has been realised even by many enlightened Governments. At the same time, the working community should not forget the fact that they have a host of duties and obligations to be fulfilled on behalf of their fraternity. The Government service has to be made more productive and efficient. We have already taken steps to fulfil promises given in our manifesto. Action has been initiated to implement the recommendations of the Devendra Salaries Commission relating to salary increase and the removal of anomalies. However, it is essential to maintain a strong Government to fulfil these promises. It is no secret that although the vast majority of people placed our Government in power in the last general elections, there is a situation where the people's aspirations are not reflected in Parliament, as a result of the distorted electoral system. It is only by changing the electoral system and the Constitution that we could build a more democratic system of governance. In order to achieve these objectives by giving strength to the Government the time has come for convergence of the workers in a more organised manner. On this May Day I wish them strength and courage to organise themselves and come forward to win these challenges. We shall take the country forward with the strength of the working masses!" ########### Great day of the working class -PM "Today is the great day of the working class of the world. The National May Day is commemorated as a tribute to the services rendered by the working class of this country," states Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakse in a May Day message. The message reads: "We are committed to fulfil the promises made to the working class of this country by the United People's Freedom Alliance at the last General Election. It is a matter known to all of you that although the people gave a massive mandate at that election, there is no clear representation in Parliament. Therefore, we require the strength and courage of the working class to achieve the people's expectations. On this journey in search of the prosperity of the country under the theme "country forward", the contribution of the workforce is vital to this people-loving new government. The new government is determined to reawaken the social, economic background through a massive economic process based on the complete support of the working class and to grant relief to them. It is a matter for satisfaction that the workforce of our country act with great sacrifice and responsibility for the success of the development exercise proposed to be launched by the new government. We believe that the attempt by the new government to rebuild the country would be utmostly successful on the full support of the working population. I wish that all who sacrifice their effort for the development of our country would gain strength and courage to perform a more noble service for the future well-being of the country." ######## Lankans join to secure decent life for all: Communist Party On This May Day of international solidarity, the Sri Lanka working people pledge to join the world struggle to secure what is needed most - a decent life for all in a better world, states DEW Gunasekera, General Secretary, Communist Party of Sri Lanka in a statement to mark May Day. The Statement "On the occasion of May Day 2004, the Communist Party of Sri Lanka extends its revolutionary greetings to the working class, the world over. It greets the working people of the Socialist countries - China, Cuba, Vietnam, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea for upholding the banner of socialism, braving attacks, subversions, blockades by Imperialist forces. It also greets the working people of the advanced Capitalist countries who have raised the banner of resistance against neo-liberal economic globalisation. It warmly greets the working class of the developing countries for the common struggle to fight back imperialist offensives on economic and political sovereignty. The Communist Party of Sri Lanka extends its warm greetings to the working class of Sri Lanka and all other progressive, patriotic and democratic forces on their decisive victory at the recent General Elections and the Wayamba Provincial Council Elections. The year since our last May Day 2003, witnessed two distinct trends of development on the world scene - one, that the attack against the people, in particular the working class, has been intensified many times over by imperialist forces and the other, as a positive development, the people's resistance has grown in strength, the world over. This resistance to economic globalisation and imperialist invasions continues to have a profound impact on political and economic life in both the developed and developing countries. The neo-Liberal policies imposed on the Third World counties have failed to deliver even minimum relief to people and have instead brought only hardships and sufferings to their lives. This was eloquently expressed during the two years of the UNF rule led by Ranil Wickremesinghe. The decisive victory of the United People's Freedom Alliance at the recent elections, has strengthened the unity of the progressive and democratic forces in their struggle against neo-liberal policies. May Day 2004 places before the working class of Sri Lanka the task of strengthening this unity further, exposing and defeating the communal and divisive forces and leading the people's struggle to save the country from disaster brought about by the neo-liberal policies. ####### Govt's prime duty to usher era favourable to workers - Athauda Seneviratne The Minister of Labour relations and Foreign Employment Athauda Seneviratne in May Day message says: "I am extremely happy indeed to issue a message on the May Day, known to be the most important Day of the working class, as the Minister of Labour Relations and Foreign Employment in the government of the UPFA." "Primary objective of our government that has been elected by the will of the majority of people ending a dark period for the working class, is to usher a period favourable to the workers in the country. Also, it is incumbent on the working class to make a firm determination on this May Day that this government should be protected from all reactionary forces." The message reads: Sri Lankans working class need to be alert to the challenges that lie before the workers in the modern world. More advanced state of industrial peace is a sine-qua-non for the protection of worker rights, and enhancement of benefits in the economic scenario orchestrated in the name of globalization. The government the employers and the employees are obliged to act with responsibility to ensure viability of enterprises, stability of employment and generation of new employment in the competitive economic system. It is the policy of the new government under the guidance of the President, Her Excellency Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga, to facilitate such activities by providing with necessary assistance and encouragement to both employers and employees. In keeping with the assurances made in our election manifesto, we as a worker friendly government are committed to take a series of steps for the well-being of the workers and to amelioration the conditions of working class. Foremost among them would be the revision of Factories Ordnance, Industrial Disputes Act, introduction of a powerful Arbitration Board to adjudicate upon worker problems, revision of existing pension schemes whereby a variable pensions scheme will be introduced in relation to increasing production and a new compensation and insurance scheme for industrial accidents and distress situations. Besides, new wages boards will be set up in hitherto uncovered industries, and steps will be taken to provide housing to the workers in the private sector under the government housing schemes, the cost of which will be defrayed by the proceeds lying to their credit in the EPF. Also, a series of new measures will be taken for the benefit of women and children. New laws to eradicate malpractices and remove obstacles in the process of providing foreign employment will be introduced the earnings of migrant workers will not be subject to any taxes. It is also hoped that Counseling centers will be set up for the welfare of the children of migrant workers, said the message. It is the policy of our government to pay heed to trade unions and the demands of the working class. Therefore the working class is obliged to work in cooperation with the new government in order to face conquer the local and global challenges that lie ahead on us. ######### Country on right track thanks to President: Alavi Mowlana by Anura Maitipe The 118th May Day is a historic event where Leftist parties, the entire working class and trade unions have been brought together under one banner, Western Province Governor S. Alavi Mowlana said. Addressing a media briefing at the SLFP Headquarters, he said under President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga's leadership, a strong Alliance was formed with true Leftists like the JVP, MVP, LSSP, Communist Party, National Unity Alliance and the Desha Vimukthi Janatha Party. The President has taken initiatives to take the peace process forward while fulfilling election promises made at the general election. This includes reduction of fertilizer prices, providing employment to graduates and others seeking jobs, the Governor said. Rural Industries Minister Lal Kantha representing the JVP, said working class extended their support to the UPFA at the last general election. "It was the working class that defeated the UNF regime which had taken the country on a ride to fulfil the needs of the separatists and by selling State property to foreigners for a song," he said. UPFA Government's victory is the people's victory and as promised, the Government has taken steps to put the country on the right track by putting in place a firm policy to stop privatisation of State institutions like the People's Bank, Bank of Ceylon, Excise, Customs Department and Inland Revenue Department, he said. "We urge the working class to safeguard the Government from reactionary forces trying to topple a Government elected by the people", the Minister said. Clerical Workers' Union, General Secretary L. H. Piyadasa said that as promised, the Government has taken initiatives to safeguard workers' rights. "Workers should be aware there are reactionary forces trying to make use of their corrupt money to topple a Government, elected by the people. Therefore, the theme of this year's May Day is "Rally to strengthen the government", he said. ######### JVP calls on working class to join hands The JVP politburo in a May Day message issued yesterday called upon the working class in this country belonging to all communities to join hands and transform their future to a better one by guiding the Freedom Alliance on the correct path and defeating imperialist forces and their lackeys bent on selling national assets and dividing the country. The message noted that the globalisation program was the biggest challenge facing the working class throughout the world today. The message said: The 118th International May Day falls today. It is on this day that the working class throughout the world express their hopes and aspirations regarding the winning and protection of their rights, the setting up of a peaceful society where unity, justice and fairplay prevailed. On May 1, 1886 the working class launched a struggle at Haymarket Square Chicago to win their 8-hour working day. The rulers answered that justifiable struggle by way of cruel oppression. Some workers subjected to this laid down their lives. From that day May 1st came to be celebrated as International Workers' Day. Today workers the world over including Sri Lanka are facing several challenges as they celebrate 118th International Workers' Day. On one hand the imperialist globalisation program has brought the entire world map under its control. All developing countries have been driven to the bottom of economic subjugation and the plunder of their assets and political independence is taking place before our own eyes. As a result the entire human society was reaping a harvest of poverty, sickness, malnutrition, drunkenness, social unrest as well as terrorism. Although the protagonists of globalisation were heaping it on the world couched in attractive verbiage what has practically happened is that almost two thirds of the globe had fallen victim to the above-mentioned menace and exploitation. Therefore, the greatest challenge before the entire working class was to free themselves from the globalisation trap. It was the working class which could forge a forceful international unity towards meeting this challenge. The message said that the tragic fate facing the working class in Sri Lanka today was also linked with globalisation. Policies implemented by past rulers who worked in servility according to the dictates of their imperialist masters. As a result workers faced the threat of losing the rights they had won after decades of struggle and loss of jobs and job opportunities. The working class had been deprived of their right to ensure a successful social and cultural life for themselves. Moreover the working class faced the threat of their motherland being divided on communal lines. The working class had now realised that the plunder of national assets under the guise of globalisation and the program to divide the motherland under the guise of peace were two aspects of a plot hatched against their well-being. It was this realisation which made them to defeat the UNP and its policy of dividing the nation and selling its assets and ensure the victory of the Freedom Alliance at the recent election. The working class was now eagerly hoping that the Freedom Alliance would successfully face the above challenges and move the country forward by rebuilding it. The victory of the working class could depend on the success of the government in charting that course. Therefore, on this day the working class should firmly resolve to guide the Freedom Alliance Government on the correct path by defeating all thievish imperialist forces and their lackeys. The firm resolve of the working class should be to transform their future to a better one. "The JVP calls upon workers of all communities to join hands to realise that aim." ######## Capitalists' main aim to earn profits by exploiting workers - Ceylon Workers' Alliance May Day is a historical and significant day for the working class throughout the world. The working class were suppressed and oppressed by the proprietors and managers of estates companies and capitalists to ensure heavy profits. The capitalists, whose main aim was to earn profits and ensure their prosperous lives by exploiting, harassing, paying minimum wages and curtailing completely the welfare activities of the workers. 'Do they have morale rights to celebrate the May Day,' asks R. K. Suresh, Director Administration of CWA and General Secretary of CESA, in his May Day message. He further said the Trade Union leaders in our country, particularly those representing the Estate workers, Estate staff, who are committed to safeguard the rights of the working class are not realising the importance of this historical day. In the year 1880, the suffered workers staged a demonstration and protests in streets of Chicago demanding that eight hours of work be fixed, in the valiant struggles, so many innocent workers had to fall prey to bullets of guardians of law. Amidst inhuman activities of physical violence and firing of the police they paraded along the streets carrying the blood stained clothes as flags. The Government of Chicago, which directed dictatorship attitude towards the working class on this day declared the May 1, as the May Day and allowed the working class to celebrate that day. He also said that the Trade Union leaders and their stalwarts make use of this golden opportunity to feast their nests and establish better life, paralysing the protest pulse of the working class. The workers on whose monthly union fees the Trade Unions operates should take part and mingle in this historical day and should not only confine to toiling and heeding their trade union masters canard. The Labour Ordinances and Laws were enacted to protect the workers from exploitation, harassment and being treated as beasts and slaves, the workers should evince interest in familiarising with the Labour ordinances and laws. The responsibilities of them are not only paying membership fees, but also should be watchful of their union's decision-making and day-to-day activities. The workers, who toil braving weather conditions should realise the importance of this historical May Day. Our late leaders, who were concerned about the appalling living state of the working class and their pulse struggled relentlessly amidst draconian laws against arbitrary actions directed towards the workers by the capitalists. They established friendly relationship with the workers and with their unity and solidarity foiled the dictatorship activities of the working class and won the rights such as voting rights, better wages and working conditions, eight hours of duties. Their yeomen services still linger and shine in the hearts of the workers and garland the statues of the Leaders. The workers are not knowledgeable on trade unionism and have paucity of knowledge on trade union laws. Most of the members (workers) do not know the names of the unions, but know the union leaders' name. The Union leaders are to be prevailed upon by the members that they are to be allowed to bring to the mainstream of politics and decision-making. Trade union leaders boast that they are the sole representatives of the working class and defend their rights. To highlight this, they use to release statements to the press. Among the leaders, specially those representing the Estate workers there is no unity, whenever crisis crops up they sling mud at each other and at last all betray the workers and lead a very luxurious life at the cost of the workers. They bury their policies, reactionary speeches to obtain high ministry portfolios. In his statement, he spelt out that the planters community, who also play a very important role to earn foreign exchange after the privatization of State managed Estates succumb to harassment, arbitral termination, paucity of concessions and at the time of retirement had to leave the residence with their inmates. Estates staff, whose appalling conditions are day by day deteriorating without bright future. Those who live with abject poverty and various shortcomings are forced to vacate their dwellings. The Trade Unions representing the working class, estate staff and planters' community should on this historical day on May 1st should take concerted decision to elevate the living conditions of the working class and wipe out entirely the burning problems being faced with by them to ensure bright future. ####### CWC could meet aspirations of its constituents through Collective Agreement - Arumugan Thondaman May Day 2004 is a perennially significant day for the working people all over the world transcending geographical and economic boundaries, states in a May Day massage by the President/General Secretary of the Ceylon Workers' Congress S. R. Arumugan Thondaman MP. As far as Sri Lanka is concerned, May Day 2004 is commemorated in the backdrop of momentous political events stemming from the stunning and unbelievable result of the General Election that was held on April 2 following the abrupt and premature dissolution of Parliament. The electorate not only triggered shock waves permeating the electorate in the process toppling quite a number of Government's heavy weights and also establishing a Parliament in which no one party could confidently form a Government. In-so-far as the CWC is concerned, the General Election has unambiguously demonstrated that the Ceylon Workers' Congress is the undisputed representative of the community of people of Indian origin in the country and the workers in the plantation industry. It has increased its strength in Parliament from three members before dissolution to 8 members after the election. It is also a clear endorsement of my leadership of the CWC as President and General Secretary under whose stewardship, the voters have rallied round the organisation in such numbers that they elected in the Badulla District 2 MPs, Nuwara Eliya District 3 MPs, Kandy District 1 MP and National List 2 MPs. The result of the election clearly illustrates that the political and Trade Union leadership provided by the Congress leadership has been able to meet the aspirations of its constituents meaningfully through Collective Agreements which have provided wage and welfare benefits to the workers. The latest Collective Agreement relates to the wage increase of workers in the Rubber Growing and Manufacturing Trade whose incentives are linked to the escalating prices of rubber keeping intact a floor level wage structure which ensures that the escalator clause does not disturb the guaranteed wage rate for the time being. Being affiliates of the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions and its Asia Pacific Regional Organisation, we also acknowledge the fact that the 76th Regional Executive Board Meeting was staged in Sri Lanka giving us an opportunity to play host to all the leaders of major Trade Union organisations in the Asia Pacific Region and International Trade Secretariats. I, on behalf of the hundreds of thousands of workers grouped within the umbrella of the CWC, wish to convey fraternal greetings to the workers in Sri Lanka and elsewhere for a renewed dedication to the ideals of bread, peace and freedom and to call upon all the concerned parties to restart the peace and freedom and to call upon all the concerned parties to restart the peace process aimed at fulfilling the aspirations of all right thinking people to establish a permanent peace in the country. ####### The All Ceylon Muslim League Political Wing Secretary General Ismeth Ghouse states in his May Day message: "The workers take to streets every year on May 1st with the hope their plight will receive due consideration and hoping for improvement but as the United Nations has pointed out that Government debt burdens and service charge payments faced by countries like Sri Lanka are preventing efforts to reduce poverty. Poverty also persists because of poor governance and inequitable distribution of wealth and economic growth not reaching the poor. If the poverty line is based on One US Dollar a day, two thirds of the world's poor lives in Asia Pacific Region and if the poverty line is based on Two US Dollars a day, then the Asia Pacific Region has three fourth of the world poor. Therefore, a complete and comprehensive study should provide sustainable basis for the reduction and elimination of poverty to be properly assessed to ensure the most effective approach to rapidly minimise and reduce poverty. Where Sri Lanka is concerned, poverty is visibly increasing. The problem of getting the suffering masses away from the situation is no doubt within the priorities of the Government which has assumed that the cost of living will be tackled so that the benefits will accrue to the entire nation and not to a section only who receive State hand out by various poverty alleviation scheme in operation which is time consuming and lacks individual initiative. A living wage which helps to make ends meet with the basic essentials, will not solve all the problems as the large number find it difficult to meet the cost of even essential requirements due to the poor buying power of the rupee. An appreciated rupee could also provide more opportunities even for casual employment that is available but not put into operation due to depreciated value of the rupee which makes casual employment highly cost effective thereby depriving the unemployed of even causal and temporary employment, which is available but not operated or implemented due to cash rotation opportunities not easily available. A scheme introduced in France, where every 10 Frances were replaced by one Single New Frances could be studied in the present economic context to obtain the advantage of faster growth without discarding all other scheme in operation. Therefore, the needs, aspirations and the welfare of the working class on the food, clothing and shelter should receive the early attention of the authorities that can escalate progress without economic stagnation by simple devices that does not require inflow of Capital to benefit the Sri Lanka Nation in their quest for Capital formation and Development. What progress has the toiling masses obtained after the last May Day and what can they anticipate before the next May Day is to be seriously thought out if all their effort can show results in the direction of progress". ######## Persevere to advance interests of working people - NATURE Gen. Secretary On this international day of solidarity with the working people, the National Association for Trade Union Research and Education (NATURE) extends its warm fraternal greetings to all the working people who toil and labour under trying conditions imposed by the rapacious globalization process. Neo-liberal globalization and the fast changings pattern of employment have adversely affected millions of workers throughout the world. It has trust upon workers a global division of labour that rests on flexibility, infomalization, contractualization and casualization of labour. This process has resulted in the undermining of labour rights including freedom of association and collective bargaining. Workers are increasingly becoming what is called "atypical". They are decreasingly industrial male, life-time, nine to five or unionized. The globalization has resulted in increasing misery of the toiling people, especially in developing countries. The policies imposed by the World Bank, IMF and WTO in the past one decade have had a devastating effect on wage earners, the working poor, the marginalised and the weak in society. The experience of Sri Lanka under the policy prescription of these agencies is no different. During the last 27 years of liberalized economy the living and working conditions of the working people have been adversely affected. The policies that have caused considerable hardships to workers include weakening of the workers security of employment, erosion of their real wages, closure of nascent industries and consequent loss of jobs, dismantling of food security, privatization of activities, assets and natural resources, sharp increases in the cost of essential services and goods such as electricity, gas, transport and food, growth of unemployment and underemployment. The Central bank of Sri Lanka Report (2002) spells out the experience in this regard as follows: "Even after a quarter of a centaury since the introduction of market oriented policy framework, the experience and prospects for the economy are less encouraging than expected. Low and lacklustre growth, inadequate investment and savings, continuation of macro-economic imbalances, low productivity, inefficient resource allocation and under-utilization of resources are still major concerns in the national economy. Meanwhile, major economics problems such as widespread poverty, a low per capita income, high structural unemployment, high inflation, a rising public debt burden, continued exchange rate depreciation, and vulnerability to external shocks have continued and in some cases have been aggravated." The Policy Package of donor agencies and international financial institutions contained in the Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (2000) and the Regaining Sri Lanka Document (2002) which dominated the thinking and actions of those who were in power since 1977 have been resoundingly rejected by the people of Sri Lanka at the recently conducted Parliamentary General election. This is heartening development to those who believed in an alternative pro-people way of development. The working people of Sri Lanka played no mean role in inflicting an ignoble defeat on the forces that were hell bent on transforming Sri Lanka into neo-liberal, client-state of international capital. The best way to safeguard this initial achievement of the working people is not to pause but to relentlessly persevere in the endeavours to win the pledges giving to the country, more particularly to the working people, by the Freedom Alliance at the recent polls. Let us strive to advance the interests of the working people through an all-encompassing movement permeated with social consciousness that would earn for the organization of the working people the respect and admiration of other sections of our society as well, states T. M. R. Rasseedin, General Secretary of National Association for Trade Union Research and Education (NATURE). ######## Working class looking forward to new govt with great hopes and aspirations - SCSGWU Gen. Secretary General Secretary, State Combined Services General Workers Union (SCSGWU) R.G. Dharmapala in a May Day message said their membership was celebrating the May Day this year under a special political economic and social environment. A new government formed, with a mandate of a considerable majority of the workers has assumed power in the country. The working class is looking forward to the new government with great hopes and aspirations. On the other hand, reactionaries, separatists, bogus leftists and so called patriots who are paws in the hands of imperialist forces are waiting to profit from the slightest mistake committed by the new Government. In this situation, they as members of the public service sector of the working class have to act in a very responsible manner while stabilising their gains and winning over their lost rights the public servants had to protect and guide the Freedom Alliance Government by correcting its wrongs and giving constructive criticisms. They should also be cautious not to fall prey to the conspiracies hatched by reactionary and opportunist forces, while protecting the motherland from disaster and standing on their own feet they should resolve to work in unison and brotherhood with the rest of the working class on this 114th International May Day, the message concluded. ###### Positive results of globalisation would benefit workers - English Teachers' Union The teachers believe that the employer as well as the employees should do away with old views and must give a fresh definition to their relationship. In a special message issued by the General Secretary, M.A. Stanley Perera of the All Ceylon Union of English Teachers, Unit of International Association of Teachers of English, Untied Kingdom says that the country should gain from the results of globalisation as those results would bring immense benefits to the working class. The message added for manufacturing and service sectors to complete in the International Market, there must be vibrant relationship between the employers and the working class. The idea of co-existence between the employers and working class salutes the workforce in this May Day. On this May day an earnest appeal was made by the union to the President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga to consider the immediate implementation of the Circular No. 06/2004 issued by the Ministry of Public Administration with the concurrence of the Ministry of Finance on the removal of pension anomally which would benefit pensioners who are at present, undergoing immense financial difficulties. |
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