EFC workshop on outsourcing
The EFC held a half-day workshop on Outsourcing - Issues and
Challenges recently. Over 50 people from various national and
multinational industries were present.
The workshop looked at what outsourcing was and why it was important
for businesses.
It gave participants examples of outsourcing arrangements and
explained the difference between outsourcing, sub-contracting and the
hiring of labour through a contractor - all common practices that
businesses adopt.
Most importantly the workshop looked at legal safeguards that
companies could adopt, to ensure that their working arrangements were
compliant with labour laws, and how to minimise risks that go with it.
EFC Director General Ravi Peiris said, "The term 'Outsourcing' has
many ramifications in Sri Lanka.
"It is often used to mean something else. The differences between
outsourcing, sub-contracting and contract labour are very subtle."
"Its legal implications are also different. We are no longer in an
era where work needs to be done within an employment relationship," he
said.
Sri Lanka is well known as the outsourcing country of choice for many
overseas companies. Cost effective labour, deeply entrenched history,
and favourable time differences, make it a top favourite with many
Western countries looking for opportunities to outsource their business
processes.
Nearly 400 delegates were present at EFC's annual symposium on
'Working Out of the Box: New Work Practices' last year.
Group General Manager of HR, Ceylon Biscuits Limited, Sajith Govinda
Wickramaarachchi, said, "It was a good eye opener." |