Observation (CEACR) - adopted 1998, published 87th ILC session (1999)

Workers' Representatives Convention, 1971 (No. 135) - Sri Lanka (Ratification: 1976)

The Committee notes the information provided by the Government in its report.

In its previous comments, the Committee had drawn the Government's attention to the importance of effective protection of workers' representatives against any act prejudicial to them -- including dismissal -- based on their status or activities as workers' representatives and to the need to adopt measures in this regard beyond the procedures provided for in the Termination of Employment of Workmen (Special Provisions) Act, 1971, which only allows the Ministry of Labour to refer individual disputes to arbitration and the Industrial Disputes Act, 1967, which only establishes appeals procedures further to which courts may make decisions on the basis of "just and equitable" criteria. The Committee notes from the Government's report that the necessary amendments to the Industrial Disputes Act are under consideration by a Cabinet subcommittee in this respect. The Committee trusts that these amendments to the Industrial Disputes Act will ensure the effective protection of workers' representatives in accordance with Article 1 of the Convention. It requests the Government to inform it of any progress made in the adoption of these amendments in its next report.