The World Federation of Trade Unions representing about 90 million workers in 126 countries denounces the brutal attack in Sri Lanka against the unionists and workers on strike action since May 19th, 2014.
The WFTU stands in solidarity and fully backs its affiliate, the Inter Company Employees Union in its strike action and supports the workers demands for the granting of permanent status to the contract workers.
The contract workers have been subject of great injustice the past decades receiving Rs 15,000 while a permanent worker for the same work would receive Rs. 150,000. It is obvious that prioritizing its profiting, the company’s policy is to hire contract workers instead of permanent employees.
In their fully legitimate struggle the workers have faced also the denial of the Ministry of Labour and the Government to support their demands and their struggle. On the contrary, the strikers faced the violent attack.
We demand from the Government of Sri Lanka and Holcim Company to end the violation of trade union and labour rights, respect the demands of the trade union and stop the tactics of repression against the workers.
