Urgent actions
207 workers dismissed by North Sails company in Sri Lanka
Urgent Appeal from War on Want partner TIE Asia
The dispute at North Sails Lanka (PVT) Ltd, a German managed company, operating in the Katunayake Free Trade Zone, Sri Lanka where 200 workers were dismissed in September, is at a critical stage. Our partner, TIE Asia, and War on Want need your help now!
Send a postcard to Joseph Helmberger
Out of a factory of 350 people, 207 workers were recently dismissed for speaking out against the management’s decision to take away the workers’ rights to their bonus. The workers receive a low basic wage and are dependent on the quality and attendance bonus to secure a ‘living wage’. Workers have been fighting since March 2002 to make the management reinstate the system of bonuses. Bonuses are only now awarded if workers achieve the impossibly high production targets set by management. When workers representatives tried to negotiate with employers they were blatantly ignored.
After workers decided to go on strike over the issue on the March 29, the management closed the factory for over a week without consulting workers. After the fabrication of charges that led to the dismissal of 7 workers the factory was eventually reopened, only to be closed again in June 2002. On the June 27 the management issued a letter of termination to all workers who were on probation. This letter entitled the workers to return to work when the factory reopened. However, instead of informing the workers personally of the reopening of the factory the management issued a statement in the local newspaper. The management then dismissed the workers who didn’t turn up to work. Up to now 207 workers have been dismissed or suspended since March 2002.
The Sri Lanka Commissioner of Labour has repeatedly tried to meet with the management of the factory without success.
From the above facts it is very clear that management has acted in bad faith and victimised the workers after provoking them to go on strike by refusing to negotiate with their demand of restoration of the quality bonus. This company is a well-known sails producer and has outlets in Australia, Austria, Brazil, China, Cyprus, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Great Britain, Greece, Hong Kong, Israel, Italy, Japan, Korea, The Netherlands, New Zealand, Poland, Portugal, Singapore, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey and USA/Canada. The workers dismissed have worked for North Sails for 10 years. Many are now unemployed and struggling to support families. Some workers, who have managed to get employment in other factories, continue to be discriminated against by North Sails management, who ask other companies not to employ them. As management of this company is sensitive to international pressure we are asking everyone to write another letter commending management on their willingness to negotiate and consider taking back the workers and urging them to take back all workers, without conditions, upon receipt of their letters. These workers are eagerly waiting for just and equitable settlement. Therefore we request you to write protest letters to the under mentioned addresses with copies to Minister of Employment and Labour. In your letters urge that the company must meet the demands of the workers, and re-instate them to their former positions: Mr. Joseph Helmberger
Chairman
North Sails Lanka (Private) Limited,
KEPZ, Phase 2, Ring Road 3,
Katunayake, Sri Lanka.
telephone: 94-1-252378-9,
Fax: 94-1-252470-
E-mail: info@nslanka.lk Mr. Mahinda Samarasinghe
Hon: Minister of Employment and Labour
Labour Secretariat
Colombo 5, Sri Lanka
Telephone: 94-1-597384-589267
Fax: 94-1-588950, Please do not forget to send us copies of the letters you are sending as
requested by us.
From the above facts it is very clear that management has acted in bad faith and victimised the workers after provoking them to go on strike by refusing to negotiate with their demand of restoration of the quality bonus. This company is a well-known sails producer and has outlets in Australia, Austria, Brazil, China, Cyprus, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Great Britain, Greece, Hong Kong, Israel, Italy, Japan, Korea, The Netherlands, New Zealand, Poland, Portugal, Singapore, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey and USA/Canada. The workers dismissed have worked for North Sails for 10 years. Many are now unemployed and struggling to support families. Some workers, who have managed to get employment in other factories, continue to be discriminated against by North Sails management, who ask other companies not to employ them. As management of this company is sensitive to international pressure we are asking everyone to write another letter commending management on their willingness to negotiate and consider taking back the workers and urging them to take back all workers, without conditions, upon receipt of their letters. These workers are eagerly waiting for just and equitable settlement. Therefore we request you to write protest letters to the under mentioned addresses with copies to Minister of Employment and Labour. In your letters urge that the company must meet the demands of the workers, and re-instate them to their former positions: Mr. Joseph Helmberger
Chairman
North Sails Lanka (Private) Limited,
KEPZ, Phase 2, Ring Road 3,
Katunayake, Sri Lanka.
telephone: 94-1-252378-9,
Fax: 94-1-252470-
E-mail: info@nslanka.lk Mr. Mahinda Samarasinghe
Hon: Minister of Employment and Labour
Labour Secretariat
Colombo 5, Sri Lanka
Telephone: 94-1-597384-589267
Fax: 94-1-588950, Please do not forget to send us copies of the letters you are sending as
requested by us.
