A Comparative Study on Trade Union Rights in Sri Lanka and International Labour Standards: Evidence from the Semi-Government Sector

Abstract

This article examines the gap between international labour standards and the practical realization of trade union rights in Sri Lanka's semi-government sector. Although Sri Lanka has ratified ILO Convention No. 87 on freedom of association and Convention No. 98 on the right to organize and collective bargaining, the dissertation findings show that formal legal recognition does not automatically produce effective workplace rights. Drawing on qualitative evidence from semi-structured interviews with union leaders, union members, labour-rights advocates and legal experts in transport, health, energy and postal services, the article argues that the main problem is institutional rather than purely legal. Regulatory ambiguity, politicized appointments, managerial resistance, bureaucratic delay and weak enforcement reduce union autonomy, discourage membership and weaken collective bargaining. The article proposes legal clarification for semi-government employees, strengthened enforcement, depoliticized institutional governance, capacity building for trade unions and regular tripartite dialogue as practical reforms to close the gap between Sri Lanka's international commitments and domestic labour practice.