UNP trade union leader Dr. Jayalath Jayawardana, MP, yesterday alleged that the government hadn’t ratified the ILO Convention, bearing No. C 189, which offered specific protection to Sri Lanka’s migrant work force.
He said that C 189 laid down basic rights and principles and required governments to take tangible measures for the benefit of migrant workers. Responding to a query, the JSS leader said that the government had deprived those who earned valuable foreign exchange the protection they deserved through an ILO mechanism implemented through the current administration. Jayawardana accused the UPFA of playing politics with the issue at the expense of workers. Asked whether he would take up the matter with relevant authorities, he said that he would raise the issue both in and out of parliament. The MP said that the government launched various projects to exploit those working overseas, though it was not ready to implement ILO C 189 introduced in Geneva in June 2011. The Deputy General Secretary of the UNP alleged that the government prevented him from representing the country at the June 2011 meeting. Jayawardena said that he was told to name another to represent the JSS as the government wouldn’t allow him to visit Geneva. "I was accused of being a nuisance and causing embarrassment to the GoSL," the UNPer said.
