Observation (CEACR) - adopted 1999, published 88th ILC session (2000)

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

The Committee notes the Government's 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 a draft Bill on employment and industrial relations ensuring full conformity with Article 1 of the Convention is under consideration by a Cabinet subcommittee. The Committee trusts that the future legislation will ensure the effective protection of workers' representatives. It requests the Government to inform it in its next report of any progress made in the adoption of these amendments.