Unions inform FM of damage to workers caused by suspension of SPG +

07 July, Colombo: Unions recently informed Foreign Minister Dinesh Gunawardena of the impact on the working community if the European Union withdraws the Generalized System of Preferences Plus (GSP +) tariff concession granted to Sri Lanka.

In the event that Sri Lanka loses the GSP + facility in accordance with the resolutions adopted in the Parliament of the European Union and this would seriously affect the country’s labor force, the representatives of five major trade unions ask the government to comment on this matter at the European Commission, said the Foreign Ministry.

This request was made during a meeting held on July 2 chaired by Minister of Foreign Affairs Dinesh Gunawardena with the participation of Minister of Labor Nimal Siripala de Silva and Minister of State of the Regional Corporation Tharaka Balasuriya, at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Representatives of the Union of Employees of Free Zones and General Services (FTZ and GSEU), Sri Lanka Nidahas Sevaka Sangamaya (SLNSS), Ceylan Mercantile Industrial & General Workers’ Union (CMU), United Federation of Labor (UFL) and the National Union of Seafarers from Sri Lanka attended this meeting.

The difficulties faced by the working public with the loss of the GSP + facility were discussed at length.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs stressed that in order to obtain the SPG + facility, measures are taken with more understanding with the proper implementation of the agreement between Sri Lanka and the European Commission.