TUs object to GSP + assessments on labour rights
The European Commission (EC) this week recommended the restoration of the trade concessions for Sri Lanka but came under criticism from local trade unions who believe the core issues of labour rights are yet to be addressed.
The mere fact that the EC has included labour rights especially freedom of association and collective bargaining indicates that this too was an issue similar to the matter on human rights, Free Trade Zone Workers Union President Anton Marcus told the Business Times on Friday.
He noted that there were matters which they did not agree with in the assessment made by the EC and said they would take up this for discussion with their union council of members that same day (last friday). “There are matters which we do not agree with the assessment they have made,” he said adding that however, by and large they have recommended to offer GSP + and this time they have identified labour rights as an issue in Sri Lanka.
The key areas of concern to the trade unions are those on the trade union facilitation centres established within the FTZ that have been identified by the EC to have addressed the matter on freedom of association.
However, Mr. Marcus points out that these centres have been named as employees’ facilitation centres which is used to organise trade unions which have not been used by workers and only by members of the unions. In fact, he noted that workers were unaware of such centres as well.
The unions were to meet the Industry All Global Union Sri Lanka Council, a part of the global trade union body, on Friday to discuss these issues and how they could ensure the trade concessions could be regained by ensuring labour rights were restored.
On Wednesday, the EC made the recommendation for Sri Lanka to regain the trade concessions for export of products to the EU, with government leaders immediately welcoming the move.
This recommendation would now be sent to the European Parliament and the Council of Member States that will have two months to raise objections and even ask for an extension to do so by a further two months.
Should any objections gain ground then the trade concessions would not be offered to Sri Lanka; but if the concessions were allowed then it would become effective from the date it would be announced in the EU.