2nd Lead (Adds details)

Halo Trust violates workers rights, striking employees say

[TamilNet, Monday, 14 November 2005, 11:25 GMT]
Workers at Halo trust, a British charity engaged in mine clearing work in Jaffna for the past five years, went on strike to protest the dismissal of four workers without warning. More than one hundred workers picketed in front of the Halo trust vehicle park located on Temple road near Nallur, Jaffna, from 9 a.m. Monday sources said.

The Workers demanded that their four collegues be immediately reinstated and their employment contract be amended to ensure that basic workers rights are not violated.

Halo trust employees also complained that some of the workers injured during demining activities were not medically taken care of and that workers should be provided with insurance to cover medical expenses due to work related injuries.

Terminated workers, Thangarajah Rasanayagam, Sothi Yogarajah, Veeraiyah Jeyaveeran, and Antony Viji, have also started hunger strike. THe workers declined to accept the request by the Additional Government Agent S Sivasami who visited the site and urged the workers to discontinue the hunger strike.

Talks between the Halo Trust management and striking workers are continuing to resolve the dispute, sources from Jaffna said.