'ILO needs to address fundamental issues closely'

Ramani Kangaraarachchi

The ILO should take cognisance of the peculiar industrial relations and cultures of each country when adopting labour standards and making recommendations on the application of standards, Employers Federation of Ceylon (EFC)Director General Ravi Peris said. He was addressing the 100th International Labour Conference in Geneva representing the EFC.

He said that the ILO needs to address some fundamental issues more closely than before. A "one size fits all" approach cannot be maintained in applying universal standards, in countries with different levels of economic development. There needs to be consideration of practical realities of each country in the application of universal standards as application of a uniform yardstick cannot be accepted.

However, in activating decent work it is necessary to look at the practical application of it at the level of the enterprise where work is performed and the employment relationship that exists. A crucial requirement for promotion of decent work is the creation of an enabling environment for employment generation , he said.

Developing sound relations at enterprise level and emphasizing on enterprise competitiveness while paying greater attention to issues such as productivity and quality, flexible working hours and social dialogue is vital as the ILO ventures into the future, as equal treatment requires ensuring these conditions conducive for business.

He appreciated the role the ILO has played in bringing important stakeholders together in employment and thanked for all the support it has given over the years.