01/05/2026
LET'S FORM INDEPENDENT TRADE UNIONS AND PROTECT WORKERS' RIGHTS
As we celebrate the 140th International Workers' Day this year, the working class is facing the most serious challenges not only nationally but also internationally. The escalation of hostilities following the US imperialist attack on Iran on June 22, 2025, and the genocidal attacks on Palestine and Lebanon by expansionist Israel have seriously undermined global political and economic stability, and its adverse effects have affected all segments of the population without distinction, not only in those countries but also globally.
The increase in fuel and gas prices in Sri Lanka has led to a significant increase in the cost of all goods and services, and the export sector has also been hampered due to sea transport restrictions. This has led to job cuts and the collapse of small and medium-sized industries, resulting in a huge number of workers losing their jobs. Unemployment and poverty have increased further. This has been another blow to the people who were already suffering from high taxes and the rising cost of living. The current government, which is moving towards an open economy and capitalist ideology, has no way of rescuing the people from this trap.
Instead, they are taking steps to impose more and more burdens on the people. There is ample evidence that the current government, no matter how populist it was before coming to power, will take pro-capitalist, anti-labour and anti-people measures after coming to power. There will be a continuous increase in fuel prices, electricity tariffs, prices of essential goods including medicines, fertilizer prices, and further increases in direct and indirect taxes. Education, health and all other facilities will be cut.
There is no doubt that the Emergency Law and the Prevention of Terrorism Act will be used to suppress workers and other sections of the population who are standing against this. When comparing Sri Lanka with all the governments that have existed since independence, there is not much difference to be said about the current government. Nothing more can be expected from this government that operates on open economy and IMF conditions.
This government, which had the support of the working people and the oppressed sections of the population to come to power, is now forgetting them and directly working with the rich and the capitalist class. To fulfil the needs of that class, steps are being taken to weaken or change the existing labour laws to subjugate the working people, and the previous governments, as well as the current government, are taking steps to introduce labour laws to completely enslave the workers
The union also had to take legal action to defeat the government's attempt to repeal the act that prevented employees from terminating their services. The previous government, as well as the current government, took steps to remove our union from the National Labour Advisory Council because it was a union that acted on the side of the working people. Moreover, they have appointed supporters of their own party to that position.
Our Union, which has not only stood for the human and democratic rights of the working people and other sections of the population of this country since 1928, but continues to do so today, has held a firm stance from the beginning that the working people have no other option than to rely solely on themselves, organize independently, and fight against capitalist governments and employers to win their rights.
Nothing has been achieved by going behind political parties or individuals. Unfortunately, it is still seen today that workers in this country, despite being deceived and repeatedly joined trade unions run by capitalist political parties that show green, blue and red colours, continue to remain with them. To escape from this, workers should prepare themselves now to face the attacks on the working people and other sections of the community and win their rights through forming independent trade unions, and for that, we invite all workers and other oppressed sections of the community to join us in the effort to build independent trade unions.
📷 D.B.Ramesh Udayanga
