Click here to watch Video on Article 23, Worker’s Rights
Article 23: (1) Everyone has the right to work, to free choice of employment, to just and favourable conditions of work and to protection against unemployment. (2) Everyone, without any discrimination, has the right to equal pay for equal work. (3) Everyone who works has the right to just and favourable remuneration ensuring for himself and his family an existence worthy of human dignity, and supplemented, if necessary, by other means of social protection. (4) Everyone has the right to form and to join trade unions for the protection of his interests.
Many aid workers and doctors were prevented from carrying out their much needed work in the ‘safe zone’ areas during the height of genocidal onslaught due to fear by the Sri-Lankan Government that outside presence would expose the war crimes and genocide unfolding in Vanni. Aid workers were not even allowed in the ‘safe zones’ and were thus prevented from providing aid to the Tamils trapped in the camps. The 5 Vanni doctors who were doing their job of providing aid to Tamils with heavy injuries, in unfavorable conditions, limited medical equipment and medical assistants, were arrested for speaking the truth of what they saw.
“The world has allowed the government to demonise and incarcerate these heroes, who worked tirelessly to assist civilians within the conflict zone when no one else did,” said a Vavuniyaa based health professional.” (Tamilnet, May 2009)
Tamil workers in the upcountry are also often arbitrarily arrested by the Sri-Lankan police and taken into custody, many of them are detained even if they produce adequate identification (Tamilnet, February 2009). Tamil plantation workers have been exploited, and have not received proper wages, or wage increases.
In addition to his, Tamil workers are not given the same benefits as Sinhalese workers.
“Tamil speaking workers are not given all the rights that are enjoyed by the majority community workers in the country,” said Mr. S.Thandayuthapani, President of the Ceylon Tamil Teachers’ Union (CTTU), presiding over the May Day meeting held in Trincomalee Vigneswara Maha Vidiyalayam Saturday. “Tamils have been treated as second-class citizens in the country. The government in the selection of promotions is often neglecting Tamil speaking workers. They are not offered foreign scholarships and other benefits they are legally entitled on par with the majority community workers,” said Mr.Thandayuthapani.
By not allowing workers from performing work that benefits the Tamil people, by arresting and detained Tamil doctors who are performing their job correctly, by not providing Tamil workers and Sinhalese workers the same benefits and by not providing Tamil plantation workers will a sustainable income, the Sri-Lankan Government is violating the Tamils right to work, and work in favourable conditions.
Credits:
http://tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=13&artid=29746
http://tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=13&artid=25243
http://tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=13&artid=20658
http://tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=13&artid=11890
Tags: Speak Out
