News
Backlog of 16,000 labour cases in Magistrates’ Courts
By Saman Indrajith
More than 16,000 cases have been filed under the existing Industrial Disputes Act at 80 Magistrates’ Courts, countrywide, the Ministerial Consultative Committee on Labour and Foreign Employment has been told.This was revealed when the Committee looked into the new Industrial Disputes (Special Provisions) Bill, published in the Gazette dated 08 April 2022. The Ministerial Consultative Committee met recently under the chairmanship of Manusha Nanayakkara, Minister of Labour and Foreign Employment.According to the existing Industrial Disputes Act, when an employer has terminated the employment of an employee, only the termination is dealt with under a Labor Tribunal. In cases where the employers violate the provisions of various Acts2, including the Employees’ Provident Fund, wages, other terms and conditions, litigation will be instituted in the Magistrates’ Courts.
More than 16,000 cases have been filed in about 80 Magistrate Courts functioning islandwide. The Committee members said that it would take a long time for the aggrieved workers to get justice. If the cases were referred to the 37 labour tribunals, which currently handles a very small number of cases, justice will be expedited, Nanayakkara said.The Minister added that the proposed Act should delegate the powers of prosecution to the Chairmen of Labor Tribunals. It was further stated that the Labor Tribunals had been given the aforesaid power in the past. When these tribunals had power many cases were settled expeditiously, however these powers were later abolished.Minister Nanayakkara further stated that he will discuss with the trade unions the measures required to protect both the employer and the employee in the event of any factory closure due to deteriorating economic conditions in the future.
He said that the Bill was approved by the Ministerial Consultative Committee and will be taken up for debate at the next Parliamentary Week.The Consultative Committee members said that special training programmes, for those seeking foreign employment, are being conducted islandwide. However, such programmes are not being implemented in the Jaffna District. Therefore, the Minister instructed the relevant authorities to take immediate steps to implement language training programmes in the Jaffna District.Nimal Siripala de Silva, Minister of Ports, Shipping and Aviation was present at this meeting on a special invitation received from Manusha Nanayakkara, the subject-related Minister. Deputy Chairman of the Committee Angajan Ramanathan and Jagath Pushpakumara and officials from the Ministry of Labor and many other government institutes were present at this committee meeting.
The U.S. Embassy in Colombo welcomed the U.S. Sports Envoys to Sri Lanka, former National Basketball Association (NBA) and Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) players Stephen Howard and Astou Ndiaye, from June 8 through 14.
The Public Diplomacy section of the U.S. Embassy said that it would launch a weeklong basketball program intended to harness the unifying power of sports, made possible through collaboration with Foundation of Goodness and IImpact Hoop Lab.
While in Sri Lanka, Howard and Ndiaye, both retired professional basketball players, will conduct a weeklong program, Hoops for Hope: Bridging Borders through Basketball. The Sports Envoys will lead basketball clinics and exhibition matches and engage in leadership sessions in Colombo and Southern Province for youth aged 14-18 from Northern, Uva, Eastern and Western Provinces, offering skills and leadership training both on and off the court. The U.S. Envoys will also share their expertise with the Sri Lanka Basketball Federation, national coaches, and players, furthering the development of basketball in the country. Beyond the clinics, they will collaborate with Sri Lankan schoolchildren to take part in a community service project in the Colombo area.
“We are so proud to welcome Stephen and Astou as our Sports Envoys to Sri Lanka, to build on the strong people-to-people connections between the United States and Sri Lanka,” said U.S. Ambassador Julie Chung. “The lessons that will be shared by our Sports Envoys – communication, teamwork, resilience, inclusion, and conflict resolution – are essential for leadership development, community building, equality, and peace. The U.S. Sports Envoy program is a testament to our belief that sports can be a powerful tool in promoting peace and unity.”
SJB Colombo District MP Mujibur Rahuman in parliament demanded to know from the government the reasons for CEB suspending the leave of all its employees until further notice from Thursday.
MP Rahuman said that the CEB has got an acting General Manager anew and the latter yesterday morning issued a circular suspending leave of all CEB employees with immediate effect until further notice.
“We demand that Minister Kanchana Wijesekera should explain this to the House. This circular was issued while this debate on the new Electricity Amendment Bill was pending. There are many who oppose this Bill. The Minister must tell parliament the reason for the urge to cancel the leave of CEB employees,” the MP said.However, Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena prevented Minister Wijesekera responding to the query and said that the matter raised by MP Rahuman was not relevant.
The Chartered Institute of Personnel Management (CIPM) successfully concluded the 8th Annual CIPM Symposium, which took place on 31st May 2024. Themed “Nurturing the Human Element—Redefining HRM in a Rapidly Changing World,” the symposium underscored the pivotal role of human resource management (HRM) in today’s dynamic global landscape. Since its inception in 1959, CIPM has been dedicated to advancing the HR profession through education, professional development, and advocacy, solidifying its position as Sri Lanka’s leading professional body for HRM.
Ken Vijayakumar, the President of the CIPM, graced the occasion as the chief guest. The symposium commenced with the welcome address by the Chairperson, Prof. Arosha Adikaram, followed by the Web Launch of the Symposium Proceedings and Abstract Book by the CIPM President. The event featured distinguished addresses, including a speech by Chief Guest Ken Vijayakumar, President of CIPM, and an address by Guest of Honor Shakthi Ranatunga, Chief Operating Officer of MAS Holdings Pvt. Ltd., Sri Lanka.
The symposium also featured an inspiring keynote address by Prof. Mario Fernando, Professor of Management and Director of the Centre for Cross Cultural Management (CCCM) at the University of Wollongong, Australia.
Vote of Thanks of the inauguration session was delivered by Dr. Dillanjani Weeratunga, Symposium Co-chair.
The symposium served as a comprehensive platform for researchers to present their findings across a wide range of critical topics in HRM. These included Cultural Diversity and Inclusion, Talent Development and Retention, Ethical Leadership and Corporate Social Responsibility, Adapting to Technological Advancements, Mental Health and Well-being at Work, Global Workforce Challenges, Employee Empowerment, and Reskilling and Upskilling.
The plenary session was led by Prof. Wasantha Rajapakse. Certificates were awarded to the best paper presenters during the valedictory session, followed by a vote of thanks delivered by Kamani Perera, Manager of Research and Development.
The annual symposium of CIPM was a truly inclusive event, attracting a diverse audience that spanned undergraduates, graduates, working professionals, research scholars and lecturers. This widespread interest highlights the symposium’s significance in the field of HRM, offering a unique opportunity for everyone to network and learn from scholarly brains.The CIPM International Research Symposium was sponsored by Hambantota International Port, Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology (SLIIT), E B Creasy & Co. PLC, and Print Xcel Company.
US sports envoys to Lanka to champion youth development
Rahuman questions sudden cancellation of leave of CEB employees
