Twin challenges of harmony

OF late there has been an alarmingly high rate of labour discord especially in the public sector.  Unions in electricity, health and water sectors have threatened sick leave if their demands for promotions and pay hikes are not met. In the semi-private sector national telecom carrier SLT managed to secure an order from Colombo District Court on Friday preventing its unions from resorting to industrial action.

One could dismiss trade unions for being too politicised or irrational but a demand cited in the energy sector is of serious concern. The Unions have alleged that 10 months of arrears pay is outstanding at the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB). If this is true then it is a serious indictment on the Minister in Charge as well as the Treasury. Only a few months back Power Minister was boasting how CEB has made profit after decades but union allegations of nonpayment would certainly question the credibility of such pronouncements.

The common demand for wage hikes across various trades and professions is a wakeup call for the Government and its advisors. Consider the setting in which these demands are emanating from. Central Bank in particular and the Government in general has been trumpeting about single digit inflation and rising per capita income. In fact the goal under President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s New Vision is to double per capita income to over $ 4,000 by 2016.

Workers demanding higher wages confirms that they are indeed finding it difficult to make ends meet. This position of trade unions yet again questions the credibility of inflation data dished out by the Department of Census and Statistics. It reaffirms that the ground reality is different to what the Government may endeavour to portray via statistics.

Whilst an argument on the accuracy of inflation data could be futile, it is important for the Government to take a sincere view on union demands. Since the end of the war the Government has taken on an expansive route in the public sector and the promise of dividends post-war understandably has raised expectations among masses and in this case the working class.

Instead of a collision course the Government must engage with trade unions more on a collaborative effort to address grievances and challenges. More often than not an honest dialogue can bring out the best of intentions apart from enabling greater understanding of stakeholder perspectives.  The same applies to the private sector as well.

As we have often emphasised the end of war has given all stakeholders of Sri Lanka an unprecedented opportunity to put things right and get things right. For this an inclusive approach is key. The country cannot recoup the two years lost since the end of the defeat of terrorism. Whilst much progress has happened it is important for the Government to ensure that people feel the dividends of peace in their fuller sense including better income and living standards.

For record sake, the country last year saw 15 strikes in private sector industries with 25,701 man days lost. This is high in comparison to 8 strikes with 7,665 man days lost in 2009 but low when high incidents of strikes experienced in 2007 and 2008. In those two years the worst was in 2008 with 51 strikes and 65,655 man days lost. The Government used to showcase the 2009 achievement of industrial peace but last year saw industrial discord raising its ugly head. If state sector incidents of industrial action are accounted the impact is substantial. In that context the country cannot afford more loss of man hours due to industrial action nor can scarce resources be wasted. In an era of peace Sri Lanka as a nation can achieve a quantum leap in productivity in all key socio-economic sectors and services provided there is unity in purpose and policies.  Post-war Sri Lanka has twin challenges of fostering ethnic and industrial harmony. If not we will have to blame ourselves and not external forces for destroying the hard won peace.