Labour Department keeps tabs on private establishments
Sri Lanka’s private sector establishments affected by the COVID-19 crisis have been directed to submit a self assessment on the impact of the ongoing pandemic on the sustenance of institutions and employees.
Labour Relations Minister Dinesh Gunawardena has directed the Commissioner General of Labour A. Wimalaweera to submit a report on the present status including financial and market share losses of those private companies.
He issued this directive at a recent meeting convened to discuss issues of employees affected by the coronavirus as it was revealed that no such updated data was available at the Labour Department, informed sources said.
In a rapidly changing economic situation, accurate and timely data is essential to assess the real-time impacts of COVID-19 on employment and businesses.
This information will be used to provide effective, targeted and well- designed responses by the government including necessary financial and other relief to affected private sector establishments, a senior Labour Ministry official told the Business Times.
The Labour Department is now conducting an e-survey on private sector establishments affected due to COVID- 19 and had requested companies to complete the relevant questionnaire and submit it through website www. labourdept.gov.lk on or before May 3 (today).
The e- survey has asked employers about the extent of the impact on the business since the onset of COVID-19, including if and how the business is being continued, total number of employees at the end of February, the present number of employees, present situation of the establishment whether it is closed or in partial operation, reasons for closure, if it is closed is there any intention to reopen and reasons not to reopen.
Other questions revolved around details of retrenchment and layoffs of permanent, probationary, contract, part- time, casual employees during the crisis period and steps to pay the April salary for employees even if the business has been closed, if the business will remain closed for the coming few months how they expect to pay workers who were asked to stay at home.
However several trade union leaders told the Business Times companies cannot retrench the staff even during a recession without valid reasons as Sri Lanka labour laws ensure job security.
This matter was already brought to the attention of the Labour Minister, they said adding that they will seek a clarification from the ministry towards this end.
The employers have also been asked to indicate as to whether private entities are in need of government assistance in the form of financial support – grant, loan with low interest, tax incentives, waving off EPF surcharge, terminate/layoff employees, allowing to pay percentage of salary for workers who have been made to stay at home, flexible working arrangements/ patterns, allowing to work weekends and holidays to recover lost hours of work, 4 or 5 - d ay wo rk we e k arrangements and facilities relating to health.
This matter was already brought to the attention of the Labour Minister, they said adding that they will seek a clarification from the ministry towards this end.