NCE queries why State leadership took so long to act on railway strike

The National Chamber of Exporters (NCE), which services the most vital component of the economy, namely exports, expresses utter dismay at the failure of the State leadership to have acted and halted the railway strike.

The Chamber states that the objective behind the timing of many work stoppages is obvious to everyone, including the railway strike which has caused immense suffering and hardship to the general public, not to mention the damage caused to the economy.   

During the past few days, the country has witnessed, over television channels, print and social media, the suffering and dangers encountered by the travelling public, who have been forced to cling on to the few crowded trains, dangling on foot boards.  They include school children, patients travelling to hospitals and ordinary workers who need to report to their work places on time to avoid disciplinary action. Parents have been equally concerned regarding the fate of their school-going children, some of whom are known to have fainted and fallen sick in crowded trains. 

The query on the lips of everyone is the inefficiency and lack of leadership bordering on utter callousness on the part of the State authorities to move promptly in resolving such issues or declare such services as Essential Services. Failure to do so for so long only enhances the indiscipline and lack of law and order prevalent in the country.  

In regard to the adverse effects on the economy, member enterprises of the Chamber have been severely affected by the late attendance of staff, particularly those engaged in manufacturing activities.  This has necessitated increasing or extending production shifts to catch up on time-incurring additional costs to avoid losing credibility with their buyers.   

The Chamber adds that while these issues adversely affect their exporters, their counterparts in competitor countries gain at the expense the country at large.     

It is now reported that the Immigration and Emigration Department staff are to embark on a 48 hour work stoppage that will also severely affect activities in all ports and airports.

The Chamber queries as to why the State authorities are continuously failing to give meaningful leadership to the people of our country.