Ensuring fair treatment, lawful employment practices, and harmonious workplace relations is at the heart of Fairtrade’s commitment to social justice. In sectors such as plantations and agribusiness where large workforces, complex labour regulations, and evolving compliance requirements intersect, the ability of management and worker representatives to understand and apply labour laws is critical.

Producer organizations and management teams often face challenges in interpreting and applying complex labour regulations. Simultaneously, worker representatives and trade unions require the capacity to engage in constructive dialogue and resolve disputes through effective conciliation. Failure to manage industrial disputes in line with legal standards can disrupt operations, reduce productivity, and negatively affect worker welfare.

Responding to this need, a 03 day Training Workshop on Industrial Relations, Application of Labour Laws, and Industrial Disputes Conciliation was organised by Fairtrade NAPP in consultation with the National Institute of Labour Studies (NILS),  from 18-20^th December 2025  in Sri Lanka to strengthen the skills of members engaged in administrative and human resource management roles within Fairtrade tea and flower plantations. The workshop also aimed to equip participants to manage media risks and brand reputation challenges within Fairtrade-certified organizations and supply chains.

Participating organizations included 24 management and HR representatives from Tropiflora, Kaley Natural Farms Pvt Ltd, Madulsima Plantations PLC, Horana Plantations PLC, Bogawantalawa Tea Estates PLC, and Hatton Plantations PLC.

Expert-Led Sessions Across Three Intensive Days

The training programme delivered a comprehensive and highly practical learning experience, led by nationally recognized labour experts and Fairtrade leadership.

·       Foundations of Labour Law and Industrial Relations

The first day laid a strong foundation in national labour laws and industrial relations. Led by Mr. Ranjith W. Abeyrathna, Senior Labour Officer at the Department of Labour, participants explored workers’ rights and obligations, working hours, leave policies, wage systems, and the link between minimum and living wages — strengthening their understanding of fair compensation and Fairtrade-aligned practices. Sessions on dispute resolution mechanisms and practical case studies equipped participants to handle real workplace conflicts effectively.

Complementing this, Mr. S.A.D. Priyantha Kumara, Assistant Director of Training at the National Institute of Labour Studies, conducted a session on grievance redressal mechanisms, guiding participants on designing transparent complaint-handling systems, proper documentation, and fair resolution processes — enhancing their ability to build trust and prevent dispute escalation in the workplace.

Oshitha Jinadasa, HR Officer from Madulsima Plantations PLC, shared:

“This is my first experience participating in a training workshop conducted through the Fairtrade organization, and I must say that we learned a great deal of very important information. There were in-depth discussions on industrial relations, labour laws, workers’ rights, and occupational health and safety. These learnings are extremely valuable for our professional lives, and even our personal lives.”

·       Creating Safer and Compliant Workplaces: Occupational Health, Safety, and Compliance

The second day focused on occupational health, safety, and compliance. Led by Ms. Amali Jayasundera, District Factory Inspecting Engineer at the Department of Labour, participants learned about workplace safety procedures, employer responsibilities, and national OSH legal requirements. Through group exercises on real safety challenges, they explored practical solutions for establishing effective health and safety committees. This hands-on learning strengthened participants’ ability to identify hazards early, improve safety systems, and ensure compliance with national OSH laws and Fairtrade standards — contributing to safer and healthier workplaces.

·       Strengthening Legal and Contractual Governance

The final day focused on employment contracts, compensation, and legal compliance. Led by Mr. W.A. Lalith Kumara, Attorney-at-Law, participants learned how to draft job agreements and appointment letters, manage wages and benefits, and handle termination and severance procedures in line with current labour laws. Practical exercises and case discussions strengthened their ability to structure contracts correctly, calculate gratuity and benefits accurately, and prevent contract-related disputes.

In addition, Arumugam Arut Selvan, Country Program Manager of Fairtrade NAPP Sri Lanka, shared insights on social compliance and ethical standards, highlighting how Fairtrade Standards align with national labour laws and expectations for ethical workplace governance. This equipped participants to uphold compliance, manage reputational risks, and reinforce Fairtrade’s commitment to responsible and lawful employment practices.

By the end of the training, participants demonstrated a clear understanding of key labour laws, acts, and ordinances, along with an improved capacity to engage in constructive social dialogue between management and workers. The programme strengthened compliance systems within Fairtrade-certified organizations and enhanced participants’ ability to manage workplace conflicts effectively, preventing disruptions and fostering harmonious working environments.

Participants also gained confidence to serve as internal trainers and resource persons, enabling them to cascade knowledge within their organizations. Overall, the training contributed to building a stronger workplace culture rooted in fairness, employee morale, and long-term sustainability. All participants were able to identify and apply relevant provisions of national labour laws and demonstrated improved skills in handling workplace disputes through appropriate conciliation methods — directly advancing Fairtrade’s mission of upholding and protecting workers’ rights.

Nishanga Gunaratna from Tropiflora Sri Lanka reflected:

“Through this programme, we refreshed and updated much of the knowledge we already had, while gaining new insights. Topics covered in this programme are extremely essential when working with employees. Continuing programmes like this in the future would be very valuable.”

Strengthening Fairtrade NAPPs Broader Mission

This initiative directly contributes to Fairtrade NAPP’s outcome indicators on resilient supply chains, worker representation, inclusive policies, living wages, and human rights and environmental due diligence (HREDD). Six producer organizations strengthened HREDD-related processes through this training, reinforcing Fairtrade’s commitment to ethical and transparent value chains .

Looking Ahead

Following the workshop, feedback collection and distribution of participation certificates were completed to recognize learning achievements and gather insights for future programmes.

More importantly, participants returned to their organizations equipped to build safer workplaces, stronger dialogue mechanisms, and legally compliant employment practices — ensuring that Fairtrade-certified plantations in Sri Lanka continue to be spaces of dignity, fairness, and sustainable growth.