Political will needed for labour reforms to work
Labour reforms won’ t work unless there is political will, a top labour specialists said recently. Giving the keynote address at a recent public forum in Colombo on making “Employment laws conducive for investment in Sri Lanka, Franklyn Amerasinghe, former Director General of the Employers Federation of Ceylon and a former ILO Specialist, said: “We need a plan that would be politically sellable in a country where the average politician does not have any sympathy for the private sector.”
Referring to a 1990’s World Bank-commissioned labour study, he said this document recognised that any reforms introduced must be in line with national interests (political and social realities), and capable of being implemented without any group of citizens being disadvantaged.
“We have to be conscious of the ILO Conventions and other obligations cast on the country as a member of international organisations in relation to trade practices, human and political rights, and such like. We have to remember that the EU and the US give us certain tax concessions based on specific requirements of adherence to fundamental rights. We have also got to understand that Trade Unions are affiliated internationally and they also have to show their loyalty to the International Secretariats who see issues through a global lens. So there are many considerations which we need to keep in focus,” he added.
On improving the quality of life of all citizens through the implementation of decent work strategies, he said that efforts should be made to equate minimum terms to be in line with the Shop & Office Act for all categories, subject to special exclusions and modifications for identified services.
On gender issues, he said female employees must be given an opportunity to speak for themselves and to articulate their requirements and also provided with flexible work arrangements and opportunities to work in their homes which would bring more economic benefits to the female population.
On education and skills, he said that in order to attract investors who will stay long and sink roots in the country for mutual benefit, there is a need to focus on revamping secondary and tertiary education and training. “We need to influence youth to acquire skills which will build a pool of talent which investors would be attracted to,” he said adding that to prepare youth for employment, it is necessary that they receive instruction as students to acquaint them with their role in improving the image of the country through a service culture.
Mr. Amerasinghe said that as stated earlier, it is important to discuss a strategy to win over all those who oppose change and are more interested in tightening the screws on the existing employers and showing unconcern for new investment.
“What industries do we have now? We have the apparel trade which is the largest employer of female workers. Although providing attractive working conditions it is deemed not socially attractive and we are told that there is a shortage of workers. We have the plantations and farms which cannot attract or retain workers. The super markets are full of boys and girls from the hill country. The traditional work is not to their liking as they desire a different life- style. This perhaps is the cause of the malaise in the industrial and construction sector as well,” he said urging the need of a dialogue with educators which results in a better appreciation of regular employment.
He said the chambers and business organisations should win over other stakeholders by showing them the advantage of a bi- partite understanding on non- interference with changes which the social partners would discuss and agree on.
“In fact the unions in the private sector have in the last 30 years or so realised that political stances don’t help to resolve problems of workers at their workplaces and have been amenable to dialogue, but shy away when they see that their opponents politically are waiting to pounce on them,” he said.
We have also got to understand that Trade Unions are affiliated internationally and they also have to show their loyalty to the International Secretariats who see issues through a global lens. So there are many considerations which we need to keep in focus,” he added.