EFC Chairman Vish Govindasamy calls for a new era of sustainability and resilience for employers
View(s):Vish Govindasamy, Group Managing Director of Sunshine Holdings, has been appointed as the Chairman of the Employers’ Federation of Ceylon (EFC) for the year 2020/21. He takes reins of the national organisation for the employers, succeeding Pravir Samarasinghe, Group CEO of Overseas Realty.
A media release from Sunshine Holdings said that Mr. Govindasamy has pioneered the group’s diversification into newer but key economic sectors such as consumer goods, agribusiness, and renewable energy. His international experience, coupled with his innate managerial capability and innovative qualities enabled him to transform the plantation business, achieving perceptible improvement in quality, production standards and penetration into new markets. Under his managerial direction, the company has established several new brands and consolidated and expanded its share in both domestic and international markets.
Delivering his first speech as the Chairman, Mr. Govindasamy stressed that he wishes to work closely with the membership, the Director-General and new council members of the EFC to usher in a new era of sustainability and resilience for employers of the country in a post-COVID economic and social landscape.
“I am assuming the chairmanship at a time when the country is faced with much hardship owing to the COVID-19 pandemic, but I am looking forward to steering this ship safely to its shore. I would like to see this opportunity more optimistically. It is the beginning of a new era where all of us must think and act differently, and the world of work is not an exception. In this regard, I would like to work with all of you to usher a new era of sustainability and resilience for employers,” said Mr. Govindasamy.
As the national employers’ organisation, Mr. Govindasamy emphasised that the EFC is placed in a unique position, not only to represent the interest of its members and the employers in general but also to be involved in formulating national policies in respect of all matters relating to employment, labour law, and human capital development in Sri Lanka.
The federation has, over the years, contributed to the socio-economic development of this country by ensuring industrial harmony. As the employers’ constituent in the International Labour Organisation (ILO), EFC has not only propagated values of the ILO Conventions but also being a practitioner of social dialogue in a manner that reflects our commitment in such ideals. The recently-concluded tripartite agreement to pro-rate wages is one such initiative, he said.
He also said the new government under the leadership of the President had created new opportunities for EFC to further the interest of all the employers and to formulate new policies to create an enabling environment.