PARLIAMENT

Government will safeguard employers, employees rights - Minister Gamini Lokuge

Sandasen MARASINGHE and Disna MUDALIGE

Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa presided when Parliament met at 1 p.m. yesterday. After the presentation of papers and Oral questions the House took up the Committee Stage of the Civil Procedure Code (Amendment) Bill of which the debate adjourned on August 17, 2010. The Bill was passed with Amendments.

Thereafter the House took up the Second Reading of the National Institute of Labour Studies Bill.

Gamini Lokuge (Labour Relations and Productivity Promotion Minister):

Attempts were made for a long time to establish this institution but they were not fruitful.

But measures were taken to establish this institution by means of an Act. This institute would take measures to make the trade unions, their members and workers aware of the labour laws and their role. In addition, the employers also will be provided with knowledge of their role. The Government will function as a bridge to help these employers and employees increase productivity and workers’ welfare.

The Government has a responsibility to safeguard the rights of the workers. The Government also has a role to safeguard the employees that pay tax to the Government.

We have to make a coordination between the worker and the employer.

Most often as the workers and members of the Trade Unions have no proper understanding of labour laws and other laws, they create various problematic situations. That is why the Government took measures to establish this institution by means of an Act to provide them an opportunity to study labour related matters.

Lakshman Kiriella (UNP): The Government has control over this institution according to its composition. So it is politicized. Most Government institutions are not profitable. Under whatever Government, Government institutions are not profit making. So it is useless to establish any more Government institutions.

It is pointless just to speak of the rights of the workers. The Government does not safeguard the rights of workers.

Deputy Chairman of Committees Murugesu Chandrakumar takes the Chair.

The Government bought shares of a particular hotel with EPF money. If a country needed to be developed it should keep away from these businesses. Private investors should get involved in them.

Garment factory workers do not get a proper salary.

Jagath Balasuriya (Labour Relations and Productivity Promotion Deputy Minister): We know that there are institutions to study about labour in India and Bangladesh. The attempt of this Act is to legalize this institutions which has been in existence since 2006. The establishment of the National Institute of Labour Studies (NILS) is a timely need.

The Colombo University also has diploma courses related to labour.

In this institute, courses will be conducted to provide a wide knowledge on matters related to labour. The institute will consist of the representatives of employees, employers and the Government.

Ajith Kumara (DNA): In a way, I think this is a good move. As the Government says, this institute is for the employees, Government servants and workers to study about labour laws. But the representation of the workers in this institution is two out of 15. But I suggest that representation of workers should be increased.

Chandima Weerakody (UPFA):

Today a person who has payed higher attention to secure the workers rights has been appointed to the post of Presidency. There was a period in the past that the labourers were deprived of their rights.

As a result of 30 years war, the talented youth in the North could not carry on their education. There was a break up of their education.

Today, a large number of students are enrolled in labour studies. This is because of the recognition it has obtained today.

But there are various activities going on to guide them in the wrong way.

They should be careful of not to engage in them. Most of these are initiated by various unions.

There is an uncertain fear created in the country about the ETF. They bring out wrong information.

Sometime back this country was referred to as a nation of killers. This situation is changed now due to the brave leadership of the country.

Sujeewa Senasinghe (UNP):

We can improve this Bill further. We can do it by taking examples from countries like Bangladesh.

The Government constantly using the attractive statement that they are strengthening the Government institutions. But we see that some institutions are constantly earning losses.

There is a problem in Government employment today.

According to the COPE report around 1,200 employees are working, where as only 600 employees are required in the Rupavahini Corporation.

Justice Minister Athauda Seneviratne:

Some of the members have no proper knowledge about the subject that we debate today.

The number of JVP MPs has gone down to three. At least these three would not be secured if they contested from the ‘Bell’ symbol. They did not contest from their symbol last time.

The Emergency Regulations are continued until today, not to suppress the labourers, but to deal with the remaining terrorists in the country.

There is nothing to control in the UNP. Even six members joined us yesterday. There is no rebellion today. Therefore, the Emergency is used only to control terrorist activities.

The working class including the farmers and labourers are not with the opposition today. They are with us. It is we who give fertilizer subsidies to the farmers. We continue to bestow cost of living allowance to he employees. There will be no problem for us with the labourers. We are always on their side.

Building union leaders is one of the aims of the Labour Studies Institute. There is hardly any good union leadership today. We hope to improve their knowledge capacity and talents from this institute.

Employers should treat workers well. They should be looked after properly. We have introduced a minimum wage for the benefit of labourers.

In future, we expect that the older generation will increase. Therefore we have to think of ways and means to care about them. The literacy rate is increasing and both parents are working in many families. This has resulted in lowering the birth rate.

We should introduce an attitudinal change regarding the status of occupations. Some are reluctant to engage in fields like gardening due to lower social states involved with that.

Economic Development Deputy Minister Muthu Sivalingam (UPFA): I am happy that this will provide more opportunities for the workers. Plantations workers will be guaranteed satisfactory wages.

When we take saree prices today, , a saree costs about Rs. 1,500. But they have to wear sarees everyday. So they have to buy a saree at least once a week. Their wages are not enough for this.

We have to change according to the modern world.

Ranjith P. Soysa (UPFA): When we are hoping to increase the Government employees and when a decision has been taken not to privatize a single government institution, the necessity of a Labour Studies National Institute is clearly seen.

We hope to improve the labour sector in the country. An opposition member raised that ETF is misused by using it to buy hotels. ETF is not a government fund and it consists of the labourers money. Using this money as an investment for future benefit of the country is not a bad thing.

Arundika Fernando (UPFA): I am one of the public representative who is very happy about the presentation of this Bill today.

The general idea of our laboure is that they need to rebel to achieve their demands.

Considering the past records this idea can be strengthened. But today the system in most countries to win the rights of labourers in the modern world is not through rebelion. We should be aware of these. The institution one works should be protected and should not be harmed.

I hope this will become the main institution that deals with the country’s labourers.

AHM Azwar (UPFA): There were demonstrations specially from the working clas of this country during the passage of 18th amendment presented to the parliament yesterday.

The JVP killed workers, doctors, professionals. So I question them what right they have to talk of their rights.

Now they sing at Sirikotha today a song. “There is a hole in your bucket, dear Ranil dear Ranil”.

The National Institute of Labour Studies Bill was passed with amendments.

AHM. Azwar takes the Chairs: The Parliament adjourned until 1 p.m. On September 23.

[ At Adjournment]

Economic resurgence in the country- Finance and Planning Deputy Minister

There is a resurgence in the Sri Lankan economy so that any economist faithful to the country cannot criticize the Central Bank that plays the role of a light house to the economic development of the nation, said Finance and Planning Deputy Minister Dr Sarath Amunugama at Parliament yesterday.

He also said that the country’s foreign reserves are increasing day by day and the economy is improving gradually. He mentioned that this fact was even pointed out by the Newsweek international magazine.

He expressed these views at the adjournment motion in Parliament yesterday.

Ravi Karunanayake (UNP): I speak of the Central Bank and its activities. The Central Bank has deviated from basic economic activities.

The Central Bank has to be a neutral body. The Government has borrowed US $ 356 billion. Can the Central Bank guarantee that the country would not be placed in jeopardy. Even in the Pramuka Bank incident, the Government has not taken any measure.

The Central Bank has to play its supervisory role in this connection. But the Central Bank is buying shares of minority companies. Is there any ulterior motive behind this?

The Central Bank has been politicized.

Harsha de Silva (UNP): I say that the Central Bank has been politicized by the 18th Amendment.

Nimal Siripala de Silva (Irrigation and Water Management Minister): The UNP missed the bus. Today they are talking of the 18th Amendment. Since 1994 Ravi Karunanayake was pessimistic of the economic policy of this Government. Today they are much worried that the tourism industry is developing. The UNP always said that the private sector is the engine of growth. So what’s the matter if the Government bought shares of the Galadari Hotel. You can’t teach us our economic policy. We are not safeguarding ‘Sakvithi’ and such criminals. The Central Bank has taken corrective measures in such matters.

People in their greed for more profits invested money in illegal institutions such as Sakvithi, Danduwan Mudalali etc despite the Central Bank warning. The Central Bank conducted awareness programs. Today our economy is strong. We have taken aid from many countries for our development programs. We can keep silent without taking loans if we are not developing the country.

Chandrasiri Gajadeera (Finance and Planning Deputy Minister): Nobody who has a sound knowledge on the country’s economy that it is going downwards. Considering the economic growth of the country it is clear that its heading towards success with about 7 to 8 percent growth.

It is during the UNP regime that many banks and finance institutions collapsed. We protected some banks without letting them to collapse by being bankrupt. The necessary background for the collapse was created by the UNP regime before 2002. Therefore this is a false allegations directed towards the Government.

The BoC and the People’s Bank were to be privatized. We not only stopped this process, but also strengthened them. The Government has a correct fiscal management policy. This is said by even foreign delegates. Therefore, when directing criticism it should be objective and done with the welfare of the country on view. Look at the reality and join us to support the economic development in the country.