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Labour Commissioner General denies FTZ union allegation
Commissioner General of Labour Prabath Chandrakeerthi yesterday strongly denied allegations made by the Free Trade Zone and General Workers’ Union regarding the spread of COVID-19 in factories.
In a statement, the Commissioner General of Labour said the Department of Labour paid continuous attention to the problems of not only the employees of the garment factories but all employees of the private sector and will intervene whenever necessary.
Following is the statement issued by the Commissioner General of Labour.
First of all, I reject the incorrect and malicious statement made by the Free Trade Zone and General Workers’ Union that the Department of Labour should be held responsible for the spread of COVID-19 in factories throughout the country.
Recently, an investigation was conducted in the Thulhiriya MAS Fabric Park on the instructions of the Labour Minister, as a large number of employees were found to be COVID–19 positive. Accordingly, it had been reported that the institution had complied with the health guidelines of the Department of Labour and that the Health Committee had met once a week and had paid constant attention to the health of the employees.
Furthermore, they had followed health security measures, such as wearing masks, using sanitizers, inhaling steam and sanitizing the sewing machines after each roster. However, it has been reported that not only the employees but also the higher management of the institution have also become victims of the disease.
Therefore, it is apparent that the statement made by Anton Marx that the COVID-19 virus has spread throughout the Thulhiriya MAS Fabric Park as a result of the non-establishment of health committees is a statement without scientific basis. The Department of Labour has provided necessary instructions to factory owners for the establishment of health committees and constantly created awareness through the Employers’ Federation as well as Media.
Further, I would like to mention that in spite of the fact that Anton Marx had been informed to notify the Department of Labour of factories that have not established health committees, he had not informed me of any such institution up to now. In addition to this, a request was made from the owners of private establishments to ensure pregnant mothers are not called into work, which had already been provided to the pregnant mothers of the public sector.
Furthermore, a request had also been made to give priority to the employees of the private sector who contribute immensely towards the economy of the country in the vaccination programme.
All employers and employees are requested to adhere to the health guidelines issued and to be issued in future by the Health Services Department.
Accordingly, I kindly inform you that the Department of Labour pays continuous attention to the problems of not only the employees of the garment factories but all employees of the private sector and will intervene whenever necessary.
Therefore, I would like to point out that it is essential for all of us to cooperate with one another and eradicate this pandemic rather than making accusations against others.
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
