WHERE are WORKERS?Grand preparations have been made in Srilanka to celebrate it amidst an unprecedented economic crisis
Another International Workers’, Day has dawned. Grand preparations have been made in this country to celebrate it amidst an unprecedented economic crisis. These celebrations, however, have little or nothing to do with workers; they have apparently everything to do with political parties and their leaders. The next presidential election is a few months away, and therefore we will see a lot of political muscle flexing today, with the prospective candidates bringing as many supporters as possible to Colombo from all parts of the country to attract media attention.
Given the despicable manner in which Sri Lankan politicians use workers to gain mileage on the pretext of championing the rights of working class, one wanders whether Sri Lanka should have a separate workers’ day on 21 March, when the World Puppetry Day falls. We hold workers in high esteem and intend no affront to them, but it needs to be said that spectacle we behold on 01 May, year in year out, is a grand puppet show. Worryingly, workers do no care to assert themselves at least on May Day, much less eclipse politicians. They are not ashamed of making a public display of their servility to their political masters.
All political parties that stand accused of having suppressed labour rights have trade union wings, which have workers on a string. Politicians whose, have blood of workers on their hands and bankrupted the economy, causing many job losses, and reducing millions of people to penury, is also celebrating the International Worker’s Day! If those governments had worked with their interests at heart, workers would not have been in the current predicament. Workers are struggling for survival because all governments since 1977 have aggravated the country’s debt burden.
It is time Sri Lankan workers, especially on May Day, realised the need to liberate themselves from the clutches of political parties. Let that be their May Day resolution.
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