Government bypasses NLAC to bring in new labour laws

The government has bypassed the national labour tripartite body to draft the new labour bill.

Trade unions in Sri Lanka that are party to the National Labour Advisory Council (NLAC) have raised concerns that the formal tripartite body is being overlooked in the drafting of the new labour law reforms.

Drawing reference to a media release stating that the new labour law reforms have on October 30 been sent to the Legal Draftsman by the Labour Ministry following consultations with a newly established Prime Ministerial appointed tripartite committee, 13 trade unions stated in a letter dated November 6, 2023 to Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena.

According to a media release from the Government Information Department, the letter notes that the proposed Labour Law reforms draft called the New Employment Act was submitted to the Tripartite

Committee under the Prime Minister's Office representing Employers, Employees, and the Government for further discussion and to submit recommendations to the cabinet of ministers.

In this respect, the trade unions point out that the same proposed Labour Law reforms draft had been submitted to the NLAC meeting on August 29 requesting the members to submit their responses if any for further discussions, despite it being presented to the cabinet three weeks before. The letter stated that while that negotiating process in the NLAC is not over, the trade unions are now agitated with the news release that notes that the New Employment Act is being sent to the Legal Draftsman to be prepared as a bill.

The trade unions has queried from authorities whether the government "has set up an alternate form for the NLAC and if so, on what basis and for what purposes, as the NLAC has not been informed of such a measure in any way." The letter has been signed by 13 trade unions.