Corresponding Trade Union Laws in Sri Lanka with that of International Standards to Enable Professional Recognition

Abstract

As a facet of professional recognition, identifying trade union rights in a country indeed is of immense importance. A 'trade union' can be defined as a combination of people who are in the same or identical profession with common goals relating to their field where they raise voice for the conditions of their profession. It is worthy to note that trade unions make the foundation for collective voice and thereby framing a sort of professional recognition. Accordingly, it can be pointed out that proper recognition of trade union within the legal background can be one approach to inculcate professionalism for national development where the quality raised by the collective voice is attended. Whether laws in Sri Lanka correspond with the international standards in order to provide the proper legal foundation to trade unionism requires to be inquired. Governing laws regarding this in Sri Lanka are 1978 Constitution, Trade Unions Ordinance No. 14 of 1935 and its amendments and Industrial Disputes Act No. 43 of 1950 and its amendments. Objectives of the study would be mainly to identify the relevant international standards covering trade unionism, to recognize Sri Lankan legal approach to trade unionism and to compare and evaluate the compatibility of Sri Lankan laws with that of international standards regarding trade unions. Legislations and international instruments will be used as primary sources and as secondary sources text books, scholarly articles, monographs, electronic sources will be utilized in this study. Study is carried out to discover whether laws governing trade unions in Sri Lanka are satisfactory when corresponding with international standards in order to provide a proper professional recognition which can be operated as a centre of initiative to enable national development.