Through entering into a tripartite agreement with the intervention of the Prime Minister, it became possible to protect the employees as well as businesses. - Attorney at Law Mr. Kanishka Weerasinghe, former Director General of Employers’ Federation of Ceylon.
If we could not come to the tripartite agreement, there was a possibility of loss of jobs of a large number of people. - Mr. Marks Anton, Joint Secretary of the Free Trade Zones and General Services Employees Union
The launch of the book "Thraiparshwika Ekagathawa” (Tripartite Agreement) written by senior journalist Priyantha Pradeep Ranasinghe was held under the patronage of Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena on 21.08.2024 at the Auditorium of Sri Lanka Book Publishers’ Association, Battaramulla.
Mr. Mahinda Madihewa, former Secretary of the Ministry of Labour, giving the keynote address stated that-
"Due to the first wave of Corona, the tourism industry completely collapsed. And the employees stopped reporting to work. The author of this book has described the critical situation it caused very clearly, with statistics. It was difficult for employers to maintain business due to the situation of employees not being able to come to work. Businesses and Industries could not be continued. By May 2020, about 65% of the workers had to be removed from the factories.
The Hon. Prime Minister actively contributed at that moment to protect the jobs of about 3.5 million employees. He created a task force for this purpose. As the Minister of Labour, at that moment the Hon. Prime Minister managed to secure their jobs and protect those families."
The author of the book Mr. Priyantha Ranasinghe-
"The story of protecting jobs of 3.5 million people in the private sector in Sri Lanka during the Corona period, by carrying out an experimental task is publicized today.
We saw that employees were sacked in India, the great power of the region, as well as in Western countries, at that time. Thus, there was a need to discuss trade union relations in Sri Lanka. This book reveals the service and dedication of the then Minister of Labour and the present Hon. Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena.
The programme of the tripartite agreement that Sri Lanka had, set an example to the world and that protected 3.5 million jobs is revealed to the world through this book."
Mr. Marcus Anton, joint secretary of the Free Trade Zones and General Services Union-
"There were three main problems we faced during the Covid period. How to protect employees from the Covid pandemic. The second is how to secure their jobs. The third is how to ensure their income. At that time, the Hon. Prime Minister as the former Minister of Labour and our trade unions and the employers engaged in a lengthy discussion and it was agreed that if 50% are called to work, the remaining 50% should be kept at home.
When called to work for two weeks, the remaining two weeks, they are at home. It was decided that they should pay 50% of the minimum wage or half of the minimum wage of 14500 rupees during the two weeks they are at home. Accordingly, we have been able to ensure 75 percent income by securing jobs for employees even if they are actually at home. If we could not come to that agreement then, there was a possibility of many people losing their jobs..."
Attorney at Law, Mr. Kanishka Weerasinghe, Former Director General of Employers’ Federation of Ceylon -
"The Prime Minister knows the problems of workers as well as the problems of businesses. At that time, he gave us guidance. In fact, it is called “out of box”. This is not an agreement that has ever existed in the world. Also, various business sectors accused us saying that why didn’t we follow the law. But at that time we felt that as employers we should think about the country. We said unanimously that we will accept the proposal made by the Hon. Prime Minister and build our country."
State Minister of Labour Vadivel Suresh, State Minister Sisira Jayakodi, public representatives including Members of Parliament Yadamini Gunawardena, A.H.M. Fawzi, trade union leaders and representatives, government officials, scholars and a large number of people participated in this event.
Prime Minister’s Media Division