Official launch of Local Empowerment through Economic Development and Reconciliation Project

ILO Colombo - The ILO, together with the Embassies of Australia and Norway, and the Government of Sri Lanka, is launching the next phase of the Local Empowerment through Economic Development and Reconciliation project. The new phase will promote inclusive growth strategies for conflict-affected communities in the Northern and North-Central provinces in rural Sri Lanka. The invitees include the Ambassador of Norway, the High Commissioner of Australia, senior government officials from the Northern Province and local stakeholders.

The launch will take place on Wednesday, 5th September 2018 at the Udayarkattu Farmers’ Cooperative Society, Paranthan Mullaitivu Road, Udayarkaddu, Mullaitivu from 3:00 pm. to 4:50 p.m.

The scope of the study is to identify the role and operations of tea smallholders in the supply chain, assess the current state of decent work in the sub-sector, identify how the smallholders are likely to evolve in the coming years in relation to “work and society”, “decent jobs for all”, “organisation of work and production” and “governance of work”, and to provide recommendations to the tripartite stakeholders to ensure the competitiveness and growth of the industry.

This study has been conducted by a team of senior research professionals from the University of Sabaragamuwa led by Professor Mohamed Esham. Prof. Esham and his team will present the findings at the workshop followed by a plenary, participants of which will represent the Sri Lankan government, employers' organisations, regional plantation companies, trade unions, and tea smallholders' cooperatives.

ILO intends to publish the final report of the study, which will be available to the public by the end of August 2018.