Mixed reaction to Bill by Govt.-backed trade union Chief

By Chamitha Kuruppu

Veteran trade unionist and General Secretary of the Jathika Nidahas Seveka Sangamaya Lesley Devendra yesterday hinted that the entire country could be late in ensuring a proper process with regard to the urgent and controversial takeover bill.

“We are having discussions with several trade unions. We will be issuing a joint statement soon. I have spoken to the Employees Federation of Ceylon. We have to be impartial. The bill is in Parliament. We are a little late. I believe the whole country is late. There are some concerns about the urgency of the bill. There should be more time for discussion before passing a bill like this,” Devendra told the Daily FT last night.

He also expressed reservations over the Bill including a few enterprises that are doing well. “I don’t know the background to the list. There is a question on how this list has been drawn up. There must be some explanation given by the Government on each of these enterprises and why they are contemplating taking over. There is a question over there,” Devendra pointed out.

Despite these reservations, the veteran trade unionist emphasised that the Government is duty-bound to revive the underutilised private enterprises and assets.  According to Devendra, it is the Government’s responsibility to look in to privatised State enterprises which do not meet the expectations of the Government. “The Government should intervene and make the necessary changes,” he explained.

He opined that there were several enterprises that needed immediate Government intervention. “There are enterprises which have been administered in a dictatorial way, not giving any regard to the labour laws of this country, or if any enterprises are doing bad or closed down then Government intervention is necessary,” he added.

Devendra alleged that the Sevenagala Sugar Industries owners had acted like dictators by sacking trade union activists as well as running down the venture. “There must be a mechanism to revive these enterprises and put them back in business,” asserted Devendra.

He further said that in India through a similar act called ‘Sick Industry Act’ the Government had taken measures to intervene and takeover enterprises with poor performances, revive them and hand them back. “I feel it is alright to do that,” he added.