EFC hosts workshop for peers in South Asia

Last week the Employers’ Federation of Ceylon (EFC) hosted the second annual workshop for South Asian Employers’ Organisations.

The event, which was sponsored by the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the Dutch Employers’ Corporation Programme (DECP), aimed to build on work done in the previous year to establish an informal network of employers’ organisations in South Asia which could support and share best practices throughout the region.

Employers’ organisations from Pakistan, Bangladesh, India, Nepal and Afghanistan attended the South Asian Forum of Employers Organisations (SAFE). The two-day event looked at the changing role of employers’ organisations against the backdrop of evolving South Asian economies which are becoming increasingly globalised.

Senior Specialist (employers’ activities) and former Director General of the EFC Gotabaya Dasanayaka from ILO’s Bureau for Employers Activities (ACT/EMP) highlighted the importance of strengthening these inter-regional relationships.

“Sub regional cooperation of this nature is becoming increasingly important in the context of some the issues that we face in our region in relation to the application and interpretation of labour standards.  We have always pointed out that labour standards must be interpreted, taking into account the peculiar vulnerabilities and the economic capacities of each country. We cannot adopt uniform standards and have a ‘one size fits all’ approach.”  

A key session for the participants involved a panel discussion with board members from five large organisations to understand which employer organisation services were most utiltised by members and what else could be provided.

Rohith Khosla, General Manager of Taj Lanka Hotels Ltd., Dawn Austin, Managing Director of Nidro Supply (Pvt.) Ltd., Kishu Gomes, CEO of Chevron Lubricants Lanka PLC, Roshan Rajadurai, CEO of Kahawatte Plantations PLC and Sunil G. Wijesinha, Vice Chairman of the EFC all confirmed how instrumental the EFC had been in facilitating harmonious employer/employee relations whether via advising on labour issues, arbitrating with unions or providing training on HR and staff management. They also unanimously agreed that the role of employers’ organisations in lobbying governments on behalf of commercial organisations was essential.

During the wrap-up session, it was agreed that South Asian employers’ organisations would work together in taking up common positions wherever possible in relation to ILO related issues and issues of concern to employers in the region. It was thought that a common approach such as this would not only strengthen regional cooperation but would also strengthen the employer’s voice in the region.