Women’s organisations slam government’s move to amend labour laws

• Say move is aimed at exploiting labour of women and suppressing all workers’ rights
• Charge proposed amendments will abolish key laws in place for workers’ protection and rights 
• Say minister’s push to amend laws done without convening National Labour Advisory Board

The women’s organisations yesterday slammed the authorities’ attempt to amend the country’s labour laws, calling it a move to exploit the labour of women and suppress all workers’ rights.
Issuing a joint statement, 24 women’s organisations charged that the Labour Minister is hurrying to bring in amendments to the labour laws, which were first tried to be brought in 2016, under a previous International Monetary Fund programme but failed, “giving society the notion that it is for attracting investors and giving equality for women”.
“In a context where basic workers’ rights are suppressed without difference between men and women and job security is non-existent at factories, which earn profits through exploitation of labour and in a context where women face violence and harassment, both in and out of the workplace, it is laughable to say that women get equality,” the joint statement said.
“Or perhaps they mean to say that the employers are going to afford them equality, especially by employing them in night shifts equally with men,” it quipped.
The joint statement also charged that in the proposed amendments, there is a move to abolish the Wages Board Ordinance, Shop and Office Act, Maternity Benefits Act and Employment Women, Young Persons and Children Act.
“After the abolition of these core acts, employers get the opportunity to exploit labour as they wish and the eight-hour workday will be extended to 12 hours. In addition, night shifts are in store for women, implemented on the pretext that special attention is given to women and equal rights are given to them,” it said. 
“However, no dialogue has taken place regarding what happens after the removal of these laws, which work as safeguards for women to work safely, without being subjected to sexual and other harms, especially as they are destined to work night shifts,” it added. The women’s organisations also pointed out that Sri Lanka does not have a strong legal framework for gender equality and against physical, verbal and sexual harassment.

“The codes of conduct and codes of ethics prevailing at factories have not been implemented properly but are confined to being decorations,” the joint statement said.
The organisations also condemned the arbitrary process put into effect by the Labour Minister, to amend the laws, without even convening the National Labour Advisory Board. They urged that a proper democratic process should be adopted when amending the laws.