2. Insertion of new part VÂ in Chapter 131

Official English translation. Where it differs from the Sinhala or Tamil text, the Act itself says which text prevails.

The following new Part is hereby inserted immediately after Part V of the Industrial Disputes Act (hereinafter referred to as the “Principal enactment”) and shall have effect as Part

VA of that Act :–

“Part VA

UNFAIR LABOUR PRACTICES

32A

No employer shall –

(a)

require a workman to join, or refrain from joining, any trade union, or to withdraw from or to refrain from withdrawing from, his membership of a trade union of which he is a member, as a condition of his employment ;

(b)

dismiss a workman by reason only of his membership of a trade union or of his engaging in trade union activities ;

(c)

give any inducement or promise to a workman for the purpose of preventing him from becoming, or continuing to be, a member, office bearer or representative of a trade union ;

H-022545

Prohibition of unfair labour practices by employers.

(d)

prevent a workman from–

(i)

forming a trade union ; or

(ii)

supporting a trade union by financial or other means ;

(e)

interfere with the conduct of the activities of a trade union ;

(f)

dismiss, or otherwise take disciplinary action against, any workman or office-bearer of a trade union–

(i)

for any statement made by such workman or office-bearer in good faith before any tribunal or person in authority ; or

(ii)

for any statement regarding acts or omissions of the employer relating to the terms and conditions of employment, of the members of such trade union made by such workman or office-bearer, in pursuance of an industrial dispute for the purpose of securing redress or amelioration of working conditions of such members ;

(g)

refuse to bargain with a trade union which has in its membership not less than forty per centum of the workmen on whose behalf such trade union seeks to bargain.

For the purpose of this paragraph the

Commissioner of Labour or an officer authorized by him in that behalf may conduct a poll at any work place in order to ascertain whether at least forty per centum of the workmen on whose behalf the trade union seeks to bargain with the employer, are members of such trade union.”.

Read on from s 3