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Controversial Bills in House
By Chandani Kirinde
Three controversial labour Bills are to be taken up for debate at the start of Parliamentary business for the new year on Tuesday. They are the Termination of Employment of Workmen (Special Provisions Amendment) Bill, the Industrial Disputes (Hearing and Determination of Proceedings Special Provisions) Bill and the Industrial Disputes (Amendment) Bill.

Although opposition parties and trade unions have called for a postponement of the debate, the Bills have been included in the Order Book to be taken up on that day. The three Bills as well as the Employment of Women, Young Persons and Children (Amendment) Bill are scheduled to be debated during extended sitting hours from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Opposition political parties and trade unions have urged the government to delay bringing the Bills and discuss matters with them before the laws are passed in the House.

However, the Labour Ministry has identified dispute settlement as an area that needs urgent attention as both employees and employers face difficulty due to the delays in the expedition of such cases.

The new Bills seek to complete the inquiries within a fixed period of time. The new laws will make it mandatory for labour tribunals to settle industrial disputes within four months. An industrial dispute referred to an arbitrator should be settled within two months and a dispute referred to the Labour Department within a month.

Opposition parties and trade unions argue that the new laws will undermine workers rights and give too much power to employers.

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