Labour Tribunal orders Canadian HC to reinstate employee

5 April 2015 03:33 pm

A Sri Lankan who had served at the Canadian High Commission (CHC) in Colombo for more than eight years as a driver had been terminated from service unlawfully based on his ethnicity.

Delivering a judgment in connection with a complaint made by a Sri Lankan who had served at the Canadian High Commission (CHC) in Colombo for more than eight years as a driver that he had been terminated from service unlawfully based on his ethnicity, the Labour Tribunal had ordered the CHC to reinstate the victim to his former driver position or pay a compensation of six million rupees.
 
The Labour Tribunal in Colombo made this order following an ex-parte hearing into a complaint made by Lal Fernando of Udugampola, Minuwangoda.
 
The Labour Tribunal observed that the respondent CHC had not terminated the victim from service in a lawful or fair manner and further observed that the respondent had also failed to ensure its representation before a tribunal hearing into alleged violation of employee’s rights.

The petitioner Lal Fernando complained he had brought many unhealthy malpractices to the notice of the CHC management in good faith and said that as a result of his long struggle, the CHC had reduced the number of working hours per week from 48 to 40 effective from May 1, 2013. He further alleged he was denied opportunities for fair earning due to his inability to speak Tamil fluently. Mr. Fernando said the CHC had ensured that he was kept out of their regular visits to the North and the East, where they met opposing political and other influential persons as they did not wish to expose their interference in Sri Lankan politics.