Sri Lanka Labor Minister denies trade union allegations

Labor Minister Gamini Lokuge has said that the government has honored all its commitments on labor conventions ratified by the government of Sri Lanka
.Responding to allegations made by the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC), Minister Lokuge has told the BBC that whenever violations of labor law had been reported the offenders have been punished.

"I challenge these people who are bringing these allegations to come up with specific instances," Lokuge has said.

The ITUC meanwhile, in a report submitted to the World Trade Organization general council review has said that Sri Lanka has ratified all eight core International Labor Organization (ILO) labour Conventions, but has fallen far short of implementing these conventions and continues to restrict trade union rights.

"Sri Lanka maintains some legal restrictions on union organising and collective bargaining. In practice, the right to organise and the right to collective bargaining are often violated, especially in the Export Processing Zones," it said.

Although the gender discrimination is prohibited by law in the public sector, it is prevailing in the private sector, the report says.

The United States Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) privileges to Sri Lanka are currently under review by the US Trade Representative to determine whether Sri Lanka meets the American criteria on workers' rights.