EFC moots labour law reforms

Sanjeevi JAYASURIYA

The consequences of the global recession affected some of the enterprises that requiring them to look at various alternatives to sustain their businesses and also safeguard employment wherever possible. The Employers’ Federation of Ceylon (EFC) recognized its role and moved in swiftly to assist employers who encountered difficulties as a result of the economic downturn, said EFC Chairman, Kumar Jayasuriya.

In a time of a crisis whatever laws and regulations a country might possess in relation to employment, such a regulatory framework will not be able to secure employment, he said.

The EFC has taken an initiative to demonstrate its commitment towards social responsibility through its Employers Network on Disability that has gained a lot of acceptance and recognition not only in Sri Lanka, but also by the other Employers Organizations around the world, he said.

During the last year, the Employers Network on Disability, with the financial assistance given by Handicap International produced six videos on “Employment of disabled persons”. The objective of the release of these videos was to show the capabilities of both male and female employees and to raise awareness among employers and the civil society on the benefits of productive employment of disabled persons, he said.

It is time that the private sector in Sri Lanka is given the required policy framework and necessary changes to sustain enterprises and safeguard employment. The latest edition of Doing Business 2009 published by the World Bank and IFC ranks Sri Lanka 110 out of 181 economies in relation to employing workers. Sri Lanka also came within 10 countries with the highest costs in relation to termination of employment.

These statistics show that our social policies do not correspond to the status of our economy. What we need is not a “hire and fire regime”. We need to have a labour relations framework that will create an enabling environment for employers to make the required changes quickly to survive any business, Jayasuriya said.

The EFC has made comprehensive submissions to the Government with regard to labour law reforms. Proposals were made in respect of a few labour related statutes in which reforms were needed, both in terms of ensuring clarity and also make labour regulations more relevant to the current business realities. The current labour regulatory framework in Sri Lanka is an impediment to business in a highly competitive global market, he said.

“It is important that our labour laws supplement and facilitate socio economic progress and development. Our country cannot afford the delay in synchronizing the labour law regime with our economic environment,” he said.