A strike by workers at the country`s leading sea- port was called off, on Monday, after management entered into an agreement with labour unions. The Colombo port is a lifeline for this island nation as it is responsible for 70 per cent of imports, especially for badly needed food items.
The port`s 1,800 workers cancelled their five-day strike after the management agreed to remove a new shift system. "We are seeing normal attendance, on Monday," said Daya Wijesekera, a spokesman for the port ministry.
Management introduced a new duty roster, on Wednesday, increasing the two-shift system to three shifts, covering weekends and holidays to increase productivity. Around 1,800 workers, mostly crane operators, went on Strike on Wednesday. The port ministry started recruiting replacement workers on Friday, but none were hired in the end.
More than 16 ships were unable to load or unload containers due to the strike. Sri Lanka has two other ports, one in southern city of Galle and the other in the eastern town of Trincomalee. But Galle can take only smaller ships and ships generally avoid Trincomalee due to the ongoing civil war.
Bureau Report