World Socialist Internet Site. Kahatagaha miners in Sri Lanka must fight for socialist policies

World Socialist Internet Site. Kahatagaha miners in Sri Lanka must fight for socialist policies

Posted because of the Overseas Committee associated with International that is fourth)

Kahatagaha miners in Sri Lanka must fight for socialist policies

By Naveen Dewage
7 2020 february

Final thirty days, 130 workers during the state-owned Kahatagaha Graphite Lanka Limited (KGLL), hit for three times to need better pay and dealing conditions. They reluctantly decided to call from the attack following a conversation utilizing the industry ministry, labour department officials and business administration in the Kurunegala Labour workplace. State officials as well as the business promised to handle employees’ demands within per month.

The walkout that is three-day hunger protest in the mine, that has been held in defiance regarding the mine unions’ leadership, ended up being the initial commercial action this present year since President Gotabhaya Rajapakse stumbled on energy. It absolutely was a definite indicator associated with the nature associated with struggles in the future, the increasing radicalisation for the working course, in addition to fast split up of illusions when you look at the government that is new.

The 2 unions in the mine are regional branches of this Nidahas Sevaka Sangamaya, that will be affiliated towards the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) that is now giving support to the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP), in addition to Jathika Sevaka Sangamaya, a United nationwide Party (UNP) union.

KGLL employees complain that the senior leaders of those unions ignore their needs. These unions, in reality, are notorious for opposing employees’ demands and acting as strikebreakers. Whilst the mine workers have actually previously taken action over their harsh working conditions and needed better pay, they are methodically dodged by the governments that are successive the help of these unions.

If the Sri Lankan federal government reopened the title loans Kahatagaha graphite mine in 2006, after its closing with a private business that formerly managed it, employees had been compelled to signal an understanding which they will never form trade unions. Presently the employees are compensated a meagre day-to-day danger allowance of simply 20 rupees (US 11 cents) to function 600 metres underneath the ground in Sri Lanka’s biggest and deepest mine.

In 2016, KGLL employees demanded a 400-rupee day-to-day danger allowance. It was refused by handling of the company that is state-owned which introduced a 400- rupee day-to-day incentive allowance but only when workers collectively achieved a month-to-month manufacturing target of 70 metric tonnes.

During last month’s strike, the us government officials promised that the mine employees’ demands—which included wage increments, reduced amount of Saturday working hours, 21-days leave per 12 months and appropriate repayment of most other allowances—would be addressed by February 28. A day, as a “temporary” solution until then, the workers were given a pittance increment of 50 rupees.

The 50-rupee “temporary” solution can be an insult to the KGLL employees who possess maybe not gotten a wage enhance since 2012 and would include simply 1,200 rupees for their monthly income.

The workers limited claims and their strike that is three-day and protest delivered a surprise wave through the us government. Industry and Logistics Management Minister Wimal Weerawansa ominously told employees to not cause inconvenience that is“any into the federal federal government. The ministry additionally imposed a news blackout, fearful that the strike might encourage other chapters of the class that is working act over their long-outstanding needs.

One of many KGLL workers’ main demands is the fact that they be brought underneath the Office and stores Act, instead of the current Wage Board Ordinance which presently determines their wages. This useless workout, which seeks an answer through the present capitalist labour rules, will maybe not win the mine employees’ battle for decent wages, working hours and conditions.

Into the final analysis, whichever labour law is employed, the settlement will soon be according to an understanding amongst the trade unions, that do not express the employees, and management that is mine. More over, this new Rajapakse federal government, like its predecessor, would like to impose brand new labour rules, claiming that the prevailing plans are hampering international investment.

A 1,000-rupee daily wage and told students that he will address all of their welfare issues while slashing corporate taxes to lure investors, Rajapakse has promised the plantation workers. These “promises” are bogus and directed at hoodwinking the people into the lead as much as an early on election that is general.

The Rajapakse regime confronts a major financial crisis—the product of the global economic downturn—and massive repayments on foreign and domestic loans under conditions of declining economic growth.

As well, the Overseas Monetary Fund (IMF) is demanding that the fiscal deficit be paid down to 3.5 per cent of gross domestic item, which means that slashing subsidies, enhancing the cost of basics, in addition to privatisation or commercialisation of state-owned corporations and divisions.

President Rajapakse recently reactivated the Strategic developing venture Act, first introduced by their sibling and previous President Mahinda Rajapakse. Under this work, international investors get income tax breaks as much as 25 years and other profit-boosting incentives.

Sri Lanka has some associated with the world’s purest graphite therefore the federal government is particularly focusing on the graphite industry for foreign investment.

A public company listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange, with the blessing of the government, began mining and exploration operations at Karasnagala in Sri Lanka’s Gampaha District on December 13, the Ceylon Graphite Corp. It really wants to expand the sheer number of mines it presently runs in Sri Lanka from three to five this season.

Other operators are the Bora that is australia-based Bora business additionally the privatised Bogala Graphite Lanka, which will be a subsidiary of Germany’s Graphite Kropfmuhl GmbH that has other mining operations in Africa and Asia.

The government’s drive to attract more investors that are foreign see further moves to privatise KGLL. There clearly was an endeavor to privatise the business in 2016.

The IMF need for more privatisation or commercialisation of state-owned enterprises is always to increase efficiency, slash jobs and drive up earnings.

President Rajapakse happens to be being promoted by his governmental henchmen, the organization news plus the pseudo-left as being unlike some other Sri Lanka president. He could be, they claim, some body available to dialogue with protesting employees and pupils. This can be a fraudulence.

Rajapakse’s feigned concern is really a hopeless and short-term manoeuvre to stop the eruption of a mass movement over jobs, residing costs along with other fundamental legal rights, that could jeopardize not merely their presidency but capitalist guideline all together. Worker unrest when you look at the graphite mining, a market Colombo desires to start as much as increased investor that is foreign has got to be avoided no matter what.

Rajapakse, in reality, is collecting their forces when preparing to crush the increasing social opposition of employees, youth plus the rural poor. This is the reason he’s got promoted extreme-right elements and army guys to the government that is key. Rajapakse’s aim that is ultimate to possess constitution amended so they can establish an authoritarian regime supported by the armed forces.

Rajapakse’s fight for the presidency was supported by Sri Lanka’s ruling elite who had been afraid of, and determined to crush, the strikes and mass working course opposition that threw the Sirisena-Wickremasinghe government and also the entire capitalist guideline into an emergency.

As President Rajapakse declared during their trip to Asia year that is last “For a nation to be governed successfully, you may need stability. … Without security, investors won’t come. ”

The Kahatagaha graphite miners—like other employees coming ahead to guard their social rights—confront not only mine administration but Colombo’s pro-investor policies, IMF-dictated austerity, the drive towards an authoritarian regime and, most of all, the profit system that is outmoded. Workers cannot defend their jobs, enhance their social conditions and defend their fundamental legal rights without challenging capitalism.

To be able to move forward workers need an innovative new governmental strategy. Manufacturing and circulation needs to be reorganised to profit nearly all culture, perhaps maybe not the rich few. This will probably simply be accomplished through the nationalisation associated with the major industries and enterprises—the large estates, the mining corporations, in addition to banking institutions—under the democratic control over the class that is working. This socialist system can simply be implemented by bringing to energy a workers’ and peasants’ federal federal government into the fight for worldwide socialism.

Such as other workplaces, the experiences for the Kahatagaha miners graphically show that the trade unions are becoming tools for the state and companies.

Miners along with other employees must build action committees individually associated with the unions and just just take all decision-making within their hands that are own. By building these committees employees can unite with wider parts of the class that is working Sri Lanka and internationally. Sri Lankan mine employees are usually element of worldwide course brothers exploited by exact exact same worldwide corporations.

The Socialist Equality Party urges the Kahatagaha mine employees to use up this governmental challenge.

Mcdougal additionally suggests:

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