ILO help sought to address disputes in public service

Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena has sought the International Labour Organisation (ILO) assistance to introduce a dispute prevention and resolution mechanism to the public service. The Premier made the appeal when ILO Country Director Joni Simpson called on him at Temple Trees yesterday (Feb 1) with United Nations Resident Coordinator Marc-André Franche.

The delegation thanked the Prime Minister for the initiative taken in this regard and obtaining the approval of the Cabinet of Ministers for the proposal. They assured the prime minister fullest support to implement the proposed mechanism meant to resolve disputes but also prevention of disputes through a system of tripartite dialogue.

The Prime Minister briefed them on the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic and economic crisis on labour workforce and the short-term and long-term steps taken by the government to recover the economy and to help workers, especially the low-income labour force.

Prime Minister Gunawardena stressed that the government was very keen to make the workforce upwardly mobile and explained the multitude of training programmes launched for skill development. Increasing the quality and quantity of jobs is the surest way of moving people out of poverty, he said.

He said Sri Lanka has implanted the ILO regulations on labour work force and provided opportunities for men and women to obtain productive work, in conditions of freedom, equity, security and human dignity.

The ILO delegation assured fullest support to all the efforts taken by the government for the wellbeing of the labour and measures for upgrading skills of the workforce.Secretary to the Prime Minister Anura Dissanayake and UN Country Office Analyst Nethmini Medawala also took part in the discussion.