Unions flex muscle on “flexible hours”
In the wake of continuous flak from trade unions to state plans to impose the “flexi-hour” concept in the private sector the government wants worker representatives to participate at a November 30 symposium on labour reforms. The government is in talks with a US funded aid agency, USAID to support changes in the Sri Lankan workplace.
Local trade unions opposed to the move have indicated that they would not welcome to the idea of foreign states involving themselves in the running of the affairs of the local workforce in line with their plans.
FTZ Workers Movement General Secretary Anton Marcus told the Business Times on Tuesday that they refused to be party to the working committee established by the Labour Ministry as it meant that they would be allowing the US to determine the nature of the working conditions in Sri Lanka.
The union leader, while saying workers globally fought hard for the 8-hour per day week many decades back, explained that if the government believes that times have changed in view of the technological advances made then it is being proposed by the unions to allow private sector workers to clock in only six hours a day.
Mr. Marcus pointed out that if technology could increase production capacity then it would be justified if workers were allowed to reduce their work time as opposed to increasing it.
The Labour Ministry has been writing to the trade unions twice and on the first instance the majority of the nine unions had opposed participation; on a second occasion some of the other unions had participated.
But even then the unions had withdrawn except those trade unions with political party affiliation where even the USAID representative present on the occasion had made a presentation. The ministry had proposed to establish a working committee where the name of JVP member Wasantha Samarasinghe had also been picked.
However, he had later rejected participation and withdrawn from the committee position offered.
Mr. Marcus also explained that on November 7 as well the Labour Ministry had sent a letter to the unions for participation at a symposium organized on November 30 to discuss labour law reforms.
The Government has been proposing labour law reforms in a bid to ensure the country remains attractive to future investors.
| Budget on Flexi hours | |
| Finance Minister Mangala Samaraweera presenting the Budget 2018 stated that amendments to the existing Shop and Office Employees Act, No. 15 of 1954 was proposed in line with introducing flexible working hours. The existing labour laws prevent a person’s ability to choose his/her own working hours, it was stated adding that this becomes important at a time, especially, when information technology facilitates working at alternate workplaces or convenient times. In this respect, it was noted that they proposed to introduce amendments to the said Act considering the option of a five day week with flexible working hours. In addition, it was pointed out that they would consider making the flexible working hours applicable to the public sector employees, as well. The budget also stated that another labour law to be amended would be the Wages Boards Ordinance that would be reviewed to identify more sectors of the economy within the ambit of the legislation. |