PHIs call off Trade Union action from tomorrow

The Public Health Inspectors’ Union of Sri Lanka (PHIUSL) announced today that the nearly two week long trade union action has been suspended from tomorrow following a discussion with the Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa today, an official from the Union said.

Earlier, the Union initiated trade union action staying away from COVID-19 safety measures alleging that under the proposed health guidelines issued by the Ministry of Health, PHIs are not vested with adequate powers to take legal action.

The union demanded that at least the Director-General of Health Services should issue an official document empowering them to perform their duties while noting that there may be challenges and delays in amending the Quarantine and Prevention of Diseases Ordinance of 1897 to give the PHIs legal teeth.

Last week PHI Union President Upul Rohana said that on July 16, two reasons compelled the PHIs to stop COVID-19 related work. They were PHIs not being provided authority under the Quarantine and Prevention of Diseases Ordinance and a statement made by the Health Minister that the public will be persecuted by the work of the PHIs, if they get the power. As there was no proper response, the PHIs withdrew from all infectious diseases-related work including dengue.

The definition of ‘Inspector’ for the purposes of the Quarantine and Prevention of Diseases Ordinance or any regulations made there under shall be deemed to include ‘Sanitary Assistants’ of the Department of Medical and Sanitary Services and any ‘inspector or sub-inspector’ of the Health Department in any Municipality, District Council or Local Board or any ‘inspector’ appointed by the Director or Deputy Director, Quarantine Department.