Trade unions, employers urge government to act on GSP+

Businesses and trade unions are calling on the government to do the needful for the European Unions (EU) to extend the GSP+ trade scheme for Sri Lanka. Private sector employers and trade unions say the GSP+ is not a political matter or a matter concerning only businesses. They say the GSP+ is a national matter concerning people’s jobs and reducing poverty in the country.

“The GSP+ is not only about money. It is also about jobs,” said the General Secretary of the Sri Lanka Nidahas Sevaka Sangamaya, Leslie Devendra, a union affliated to the SLFP. “There are 270,000 jobs in the garment sector alone and more with other sectors. The GSP+ has allowed us to become more competitive. If the GSP+ is lost we don’t know how many will lose their jobs, because export orders may go elsewhere, since we can’t compete on price. As trade unions we do not want to see job losses. We want to see new jobs being created. Not jobs being lost,” said Devendra.

Major trade unions and some of the country’s biggest private sector employers met earlier this week to discuss their positions on the GSP+. The meeting was organised by the Association for Dialogue and Conflict Resolution (ADCOR), a Trust set up by the National Association for Trade Unions Research and Trade Education (NATURE) and the Employers Federation of Ceylon (EFC).

The JSS (Jathika Sevaka Sangamaya), the trade union affiliated to the main opposition UNP, also spoke up at the meeting. “We agree that the GSP+ is important for this country. That is why we are trying to help to extend the GSP+,” said Chief Organiser, JSS, Palitha Athukorala. The trade unions are pledging international support for Sri Lanka’s cause, if the government takes steps to build confidence about its commitment towards core international labour standards.

“We have an extensive and influential contact network in Europe. There are large trade unions bodies that have members who are also Members of Parliament in European countries. We can get their support,” said Athukorala. “We have links with European trade unions that have consultative status with European governments. They will help us,” said Devendra.