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Lanka to face human rights rules on exports to Germany from Jan 23
ECONOMYNEXT –Sri Lanka’s exporters will have to meet tight entry rules to Germany with a new human rights law being applied to German importers who will have ensure that the entire supply chain complies, German Ambassador Holger Seubert said.Several countries have introduced human rights due diligence laws and an EU wide has a draft legislation is under discussion but the German law is the most “far reaching human rights due diligence law” Ambassador Seubert said.
“It is not just to first tier suppliers,” he said. “But also down the supply chain. Violation of the law may lead to fines and sanctions.”
Markus Löning, Former Commissioner of Human Rights of the German government and Managing Director Löning Responsible Business and Human Rights, said the big push for human rights and sustainable supply chains started after the collapse of a factory in Bangladesh.
The Rana Plaza apparent factory collapse left over 1000 people dead.
“People and NGOs started asking where were all these goods coming from?” Loning said.
The supply chain law adds to existing standard and requirements on labour and environment some of which are voluntary.
Löning Responsible Business and Human Rights signed a co-operation agreement with JAAR Corporate Solutions (Pvt) Ltd, a Colombo based company with German and Sri Lankan consultants to help companies reach the standards by January 2023.Andreas Hergenröther, Joint Managing Director of JAAR Corporate Solutions said many of the larger Sri Lanka exporters were “very much advanced” and had high labour standards and sustainability practices.
“It is important to anticipate legal trends, anticipate consumer trends and know what is required by national level,” he said.
“There is a high administrative burden and manpower requirement but on the other hand it also a huge opportunity.”
However they had to have processes in place to prove that they and their suppliers also complied.It required traceability across countries.The law would apply equally to EU and countries outside the EU.Companies that meet the criteria can get larger market share and had new opportunities officials said.
“It helps foster competiveness of Sri Lanka companies and secure their market to the EU,” Ambassador Seubert said.
Löning said the Russia and Ukraine conflict where companies suddenly found cut off from their suppliers in Russia and were looking for new suppliers in other countries.
“Sri Lanka is actually a good place to start business relationships,” Loning said.
However the country had to meet the new standards.Rohan Fernando, Executive Director of Plantations and Business Development of the Aitken Spence Group covering Sustainability and Branding said the group has been part of a number of global initiatives.
“Being sustainable has been a differentiator for us,” Fernando said. “At Aitken Spence it has not been easy because we are not a one product company.
He said group had 16 different businesses and operated in nine countries and its agriculture businesses already had certification from organizations like the Forestry Stewardship Council and Rain Forest Alliance.
Sabine Ulmer, Co-Owner and Deputy MD of Eskimo Fashion Knitwear said they had to comply with multiple audits from different buyers and brands which had a set of requirements but there was no mutual recognition of rules.She hoped the new German rule will lead to a unified requirement and not yet another new standard which would add to administrative costs and effort.Ananda Pathirage chief executive of HJS Condiments Limited some standards including those promoted by industry associations seemed to be exactly the same but there was no mutual recognition.Business Social Compliance Initiative (BCSI) and SA 8000 standard appeared to be the same but both had to be complied with and audited to reach foreign buyers.
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
