By Sirimantha Rathnasekera

Minister of Water Supply and Estate Infrastructure Development, and General Secretary of the Ceylon Workers Congress, Jeevan Thondaman during a meeting with the Director General of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) Gilbert F. Houngbo raised concerns pertaining to the Lankan migrant workers, ministry sources said.

Minister Thondaman and his delegation embarked on an official visit to Geneva to attend the Global Trade Union Congress of Public Service International, during which they held high-level meetings with several international organizations.

The Minister briefed the ILO Director General of the significant contributions of plantation sector workers to the Sri Lankan economy and the historical challenges they have faced, including discrimination and exploitation.

“The Ceylon Workers Congress,” Minister Thondaman said, “serves as a staunch defender of the rights of these workers, ensuring their welfare and advocating for their rights in cases of employer exploitation.”

During the meeting, Minister Thondaman expressed his concerns about the proposed reform of the labor laws in Sri Lanka, highlighting that the current draft did not align with the expectations of trade unions. He stressed the need for comprehensive consultation with the National Labour Advisory Council to ensure that the welfare and rights of workers are protected.

The Minister also touched upon the challenges posed by the economic crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic, which have had a profound impact on Sri Lanka’s working class. He noted that the wages of plantation workers had become unstable, with no increase for over two years, despite the soaring cost of living. Thondaman urged employers to consider a more equitable tea partnership model that empowers workers to increase productivity in the plantation industry.

Director General Gilbert F. Houngbo of the ILO pledged support for the Ceylon Workers Congress’s request. He assigned a team of experts to study and implement best practices, particularly those from the Philippines, with a focus on migrant worker protection. Houngbo extended his gratitude to Minister Thondaman for his steadfast defense of trade union rights and affirmed the ILO’s unwavering commitment to safeguarding the rights of workers in Sri Lanka.

The meeting was joined by various dignitaries, including Barath Arullsamy, the Vice President of CWC and Chairman of the Plantation Human Development Trust, Aritha Wickramasinghe, Advisor to Minister, Maria Helena, Director of the Bureau of Workers Activities, and Hitomi Nakagome, Senior Adviser of the ILO.