Ministry to create Workers' Councils

Dharma Sri Abeyratne

The National Languages and Social Integration Ministry will stand for the creation of a National Workers' Council which will be a regulatory body of any institution, National Languages and Social Integration Minister Vasudeva Nanayakkara said.

The minister was addressing the media at the National Languages and Social Integration Ministry yesterday.

The concept of Workers' Councils was introduced by the National Languages and Social Integration Ministry aiming to promote productivity and efficiency in institutions.

In addition, institutions will benefit from increasing interrelationship and cooperation between workers, identifying drawbacks, reducing frauds and corruption through the Workers' Councils.

The National Languages and Social Integration Ministry will hold a special seminar at the Hector Kobbekaduwa Agrarian Research Institute, Colombo on August 8 at 9a.m. to formulate a framework for setting up of a workers council. The seminar will help educate employees on the workers' council. Minister Nanayakkara said that the workers' council was not new to Sri Lanka since the United Front Government in the 1970s used this concept in the past to strengthen the CTB, CGR and other State institutions.

"At a time when Sri Lanka has been placed on a massive development track after eradicating terrorism. The workers' council concept will help improve productivity and efficiency in State institutions by eliminating corruption and wastage, improving employer employee relations," he said. The minister further added that 10 percent productivity growth can be obtained by establishing Workers' Council. Guidance and advice for establishing workers council will be given by the National Languages and Social Integration Ministry.

After formulating framework, the workers council will be established with immediate effect, the minister noted.