Women lose a seat at the Labour Council?

• Says membership of the Council is not based on the fact that they are regarded pro or anti-government

By Kalani Kumarasinghe  

Labour Minister Manusha Nanayakkara refuted claims that matters related to the National Labour Advisory Council (NLAC) were being made based on members’ support towards the government. . 

 His comments come in the backdrop of allegations that the removal of the only female representative of the Council was due to the member’s strong sentiments against the government.  

“The membership of the Council is not based on the fact that they are regarded pro or anti-government,” the Minister said.   

The recent removal of the United Federation of Labour (UFL)’s permanent representative to the Council, Swasthika Arulingam, drew criticism from a large number of unions as well as activists. The NLAC is a tripartite body consisting of the government, employers and unions, which since its establishment in 1994 consults on labour policies in the country. However, the body did not have any female representation until 2021, when Arulingam, an attorney by profession, was appointed. Arulingam is also the President of the Commercial Industrial Workers Union (CIWU) which is a part of the UFL.  

At a meeting convened on Tuesday, the NLAC was reconstituted, as the appointments were last made in 2019/20, the Minister said. According to a new decision Council members were now required to reflect the number of members of the unions they represent.   

The move disqualified the UFL from nominating Arulingam as a Council member, effectively removing the only female representative in the Council, drawing strong criticisms as a number of reforms being deliberated by the Labour Ministry at present concern women and their participation in the labour force.  

The Minister however said a committee had been appointed to look into the lack of female representation in labour unions as well as the Council.  

“Not only will this committee look into women’s representation but also the representation of workers in every field,” Nanayakkara said. He charged that the labour unions have traditionally resorted to filling paperwork which has not been an honest reflection of the membership of the unions.  

“It can’t be a document filling exercise, but a true reflection of records with the Labour Department,” he said.   

• A committee has been appointed to look into the lack of female representation in labour unions as well as the Council