Special protection program for working women

Srama Wasana Fund for industrial sector workers:

CHAMIKARA Weerasinghe

Labour Relations and Manpower Minister Athauda Seneviratne invited the country's working women on the Women's Day (March 8) to derive the full scope of benefits from programs introduced by the Labour and Manpower Ministry to ensure the rights of working women.

The Minister said the women's labour force participation has a significant bearing on the country's economy and their contributions must be recognized duly with honour and respect.

"We have taken steps to introduce a special employee protection program for those work in the industrial sector through our Srama Wasana Fund," he said.

The Ministry of Labour and Manpower has put into effect a number of programs with this as the basis, he said.

He was speaking at a ceremony held at the Labour Ministry, Narahenpita to celebrate the International Women's Day. It was organized by the Ministry's Women and Children's Affairs Division.

Seneviratne said, "I would like to ask those women who work in different industries to make their efforts to take the toll of benefits available to them."

He said that the International Labour Organisation has helped the Ministry to carry out several programs to stimulate a dialogue in the society to give due place and recognition to the working women and their work.

Labour Ministry Secretary Mahinda Madihahewa said the women working in the Investment Promotion Zones contribute hugely to the country's economy, and yet it appears that their importance have been more or less overlooked .

"Our society has to rise from this situation. The Labour Ministry has achieved some success in creating a dialogue on this matter as with its programs," he added.