Workers’ rights cannot be won through protests – Prez

By Saman Indrajith-December 1, 2016, 9:59 pm

President Maithripala Sirisena in Parliament yesterday called on all trade unions to find solutions for their grievances through negotiations without causing inconvenience to general public.

Participating in the third reading stage budget debate under the expenditure heads of the Ministry of National Integration and Reconciliation coming under his purview, the President said that there was no problem that could not be sorted out through negotiations.

"Workers’ rights cannot be won through demonstrations, strikes or boycotts which would only place the people in difficulty. Innocent people would suffer due to trade union action," the President said.

He invited trade unionists to meet the relevant subject ministers and forward their grievances to them without resorting to union action. If the unionists could not find solutions through discussions with their ministers, then they could avail the services of the cabinet sub committees appointed to provide solutions for such problems. "If the unionists could not obtain the solution even after meeting the cabinet sub committees, I am ready to discuss with them," the President said.

He said the incumbent government was a one that protected labour rights. "We will not deprive the workers of their right to engage in trade union activities."

"I request the unionists not to place innocent people in difficulty by staging demonstration to shut down roads for hours. You cannot win union struggles through such means, but only through negotiations."