TUs head to court against new bill
A joint trade union group has filed a case against the bill on the new employment laws titled the Economic Transformation Bill citing concerns that it violates the Constitution.
The Free Trade Zone and General Services Union General Secretary Anton Marcus said on Tuesday that they together with a number of other trade unions have filed a case against the Bill in the Supreme Court. In the case the trade unions question the way in which the bill had been prepared without due consultation with the relevant stakeholders.
Mr. Marcus also explained that the bill has been so drafted that it cannot be changed by any subsequent government either. In this respect, it was pointed out that any change of government is “meaningless as the same system will continue.”
He pointed out that this is a “unilateral” decision by the President and noted that there has not been any proper evaluation carried out on the existing system.
The trade unions have continuously raised concerns over the changes in the labour laws that will bring about a drastic difference in the work environment for employees.
The trade unions had previously stated in a letter to the Labour Minister that a labour law reform initiative devoid of transparent common consensus among the key tripartite stakeholders of employment, concerning its specific operating terms of reference is contrary to the principles of the International Labour Organisation Conventions governing tripartite consultation and stands to fail in the realization of norms of “Decent Work.”
In fact the trade unions pointed out that there was “more than adequate” representation for the business community in the committee appointed by the President to prepare the base document required for the bill. The bill is said to impact nearly three million employees in the private and semi-government sectors that affected their dependents accounting for 12 million citizens. It was pointed out that the National Labour Advisory Council that should ideally meet at least once every month is left abandoned for eight months since September last year with the President’s consent.
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