A Practical Guide to Labour law

The Institute of Industrial Law Colombo will launch a book at Sri Lanka Foundation Institute, Torrington Avenue, Colombo at 4 p.m. on July 2.

K. Sripavan Judge of the Supreme Court will be the chief guest. This Institute was established in November 1996 by a group of Lawyers and others, deeply committed to the development of Industrial Law.

The book is titled "A Practical Guide to Labour law." The author of this book is V. Vimalarajah, Secretary General of the Institute.

He is credited with more than two decades of experience as an officer handling Industrial Relations and enforcement work in the labour department. He is an Arbitrator of the Industrial Court and a retired President, Labour Tribunal. His retirement as President, Labour Tribunals was in June 1991.

The Book touches on various aspects of Industrial Law and answers several questions which are raised by employers and workmen in relation to issues arising in respect of Shop and Office Employees Act, Wages Board Act, Maternity Benefits Ordinance such as leave that a person is entitled to, overtime payable and other related matters. Similarly several questions which arise in regard to Employees Provident Fund Act, Employees Trust Fund, payment of Gratuity Act, holding of domestic inquiries have been clarified and explained. In regard to Labour Tribunals and Arbitration, important cases relating to exercising of "Just and Equitable" concept in the Industrial Dispute Act have been discussed, with references to various decisions of the superior courts.

Concepts such as whose an employee, vacation of post and similar matters have also been analysed.

Certain novel issues such as the position of employees who enter into contracts outside Sri Lanka for employment in Sri Lanka have also been discussed. Payment of compensation to employees when their employment has been terminated unjustly has also been referred to in detail with reference to relevant case law.