|
Less strikes in private sector now:
Positive labour relations in Lanka
Harshini Perera
|
Mahinda Madihahewa |
The number of strikes in Sri Lanka’s private sector is less compared
to other countries in the region. This is due to the positive labour
relations Sri Lanka has at present, Labour Relations and Manpower
Ministry Secretary Mahinda Madihahewa said. A tripartite international
workshop on freedom of association and collective bargaining was held at
the Hilton yesterday.
|
Trade Unions in Sri Lanka |
| * In 2008
nearly 2,000 trade unions were registered under the TUO
* Out of that nearly 900 trade
unions represent around three million workers in the private
sector and the public Corporation sector
*The unionization is currently
around 18 percent |
Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal and Maldives participated.
Madihahewa said Sri Lanka has ratified 40 International Labour
Organization (ILO) conventions including the eight main core
conventions.
Among the Freedom of Association conventions, Sri Lanka has ratified
ILO convention 98 on Right to Organize and Collective Bargaining in 1972
and the Convention 87 on Freedom of Association and Protection of the
Right to Organize in 1995. “The Labour Relations and Manpower Ministry
has already entered into a collective agreement with the BOI zones in
the country. All have recognized trade unions as a positive figure in
the industries. They are in the process of recognizing the freedom of
association and collective bargaining as a stimulant for the benefit of
the industries,” he said.
“It is due to the long standing and sound labour relations that Sri
Lanka was selected for the GSP plus concession in the region,” he said.
The workshop focuses on the rights at work in each country and it
will create a healthy background at work places.
 Around
60 percent of Sri Lanka’s total employed is engaged in the informal
sector.
Rights of these workers are more difficult to ensure due to lack of
visibility at enterprises on employment relations.
Sri Lanka has ratified ILO conventions as early as July 1948 and is
active than in any other country in the region. This resulted in
promoting social dialogue.
“Sri Lanka is also committed to promote Decent Work and was able to
adopt the National Policy on Decent Work in 2006.
“It has made allocations in the annual budget since 2007 to implement
the National Policy,” he said.
“We are aware of some of the existing constraints in fully
implementing the convention such as bargaining in the public sector in
the informal sector and the effects of new employment relationships.
“The constituents acting in good faith will enact the application of
the conventions of freedom of Association and Collective Bargaining in
enterprises,” Madihahewa said. |
