New Labour Bill will enslave workers – NPP

The rights of the working people of this country are being curtailed by surrendering to the IMF conditions by the government, NPP MP Vijitha Herath said.

He said the Labour Minister is preparing to cut the Provident Fund and other employee retirement fund benefits through debt optimization and preparing to cut the rights of the working people by bringing a new Bill. Until now, 13 laws which have contributed to upholding the rights of the working people to some extent have been abolished and plans have been made to introduce new laws.

At a time when a country is economically bankrupt, the rights of the working people should be further protected. But the role of the government has been to further crush the poor people through these labour laws that are to be introduced under debt restructuring and ‘Aswasuma’.

The law to extend the eight-hour working day to 45 hours a week and legislate a situation where they have to work 12 hours a day is planned. There is an attempt to work up to 16 hours a day by saying that it is according to the employee’s wishes. The rights, which gave the working people the right to organize for professional rights, is also going to be abolished by the new Bill. Accordingly, it is planned to make it an offence punishable by court to act for an urgent professional right without notifying the employer.

“If this Bill is passed, the working people of our country will be enslaved and the slave trade will be established. Therefore, as the National People’s Power, we emphasize to the government to withdraw this Bill,” Herath said.