TUs asks Govt. support to Katunayake FTZ

Trade unions have called on the government to intervene to ensure normalcy in the Katunayake free trade zone (FTZ).  The Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) affiliated private sector trade union wing, the Inter Company Employees’ Union (ICEU) has in writing requested the government to address issues related to the FTZ employees.  Among the issues the ICEU noted are, injured FTZ workers still receiving treatment in hospitals, .........

damage caused to property during the clash between FTZ workers and the police and the inquiries being conducted into employees who had participated in the protest against the private sector pensions scheme.  ICEU head, Wasantha Samarasinghe in the letter has said that the government should instruct the companies in the FTZ to grant paid leave to the injured FTZ workers receiving treatment in hospitals, to secure their jobs and compensate the damage caused to the properties of FTZ workers.  He has said that employers should not be allowed to harass the FTZ workers in their employ  for participating in the protest.