The Socialist Equality Party (SEP) received a letter from the Sri Lanka’s Labour and Foreign Employment Minister Manusha Nanayakkara on May 26, calling for proposals for labour law reforms and inviting discussion on that matter.
Nanayakkara also sent similar letters to all other political parties, trade unions, and several other civil organisations requesting their proposals, in the guise of “consulting all stakeholders” in preparing the new labour laws. The new bill is to be presented on July 9 to the National Labour Advisory Council, a tri-partite corporatist body including the labour minister, employers and trade unions.
SEP General Secretary Deepal Jayasekera replied on behalf of the party, stating:
“The SEP rejects your invitation for submitting proposals for labour law reforms to your government and participation in discussions with you on that matter. Our party, representing and working for the interests of vast majority of the population—the working class—is not going to collaborate with your government on any matter and be part of any exercise. We also oppose the scrapping of existing rights of workers even though they are limited.
“Your letter is a cynical and dishonest exercise. Contrary to your claims that you are going to change the country’s existing labour laws ‘to protect and safeguard employers and employees,’ the new labour laws being brought by you will protect employers against employees. Your government wants to establish new labour laws to provide...
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