- Slavery, shame, refugees and poverty, the outcome
- Humaneness, morals and ethical labour practices have flown out of the window
Was it slavery, refugees and abject poverty, the whole purpose of setting up Free Trade Zones (FTZ) in 1978?
FTZs in Katunayake and elsewhere have become ‘Houses of Bondage’. Aren’t workers human? Do they have to forgo self respect? Isn’t there something called the dignity of work?
When labour standards have improved considerably in many apparel producing and exporting countries, workers at FTZs in Sri Lanka are yet subject to harsh conditions forcing them to adapt to the hostile environment.
Where has the ‘humaneness’ of investors and the managers of these FTZs gone? Is making profits the only concern of investors? This is typical capitalist mentality.
Much has been spoken about producing ‘Garments without Guilt’. The Sri Lankan apparel manufacturers were the first in the world to champion the cause of ethical labour practices and use of people and environment-friendly factories.
Are the FTZs free from adhering to these practices? Who is responsible and to who could the workers address their woes to? Is it to the Labour Department, Board of Investment of Sri Lanka (BOI) or the local authorities such as the Pradeshiya Sabha?
It seems there is no responsible body for the welfare of workers.
The language barriers for those from the North and the East make matters worse. Many of them could neither speak nor understand Sinhala which is the language used in the FTZs.
Discrimination on language grounds was one of the primary reasons for the country to be ‘in flames’ for over 30 years in an ethnic war that shattered the dreams of thousands of innocent civilians who lost not only their kith and kin but also their lives and limbs.
Gender discrimination
Gender discrimination is at its highest at these FTZs with different treatment being meted out to female employees who silently slog all day and night to keep the home fires burning.
Many of them, especially under the man-power category get a paltry salary hardly enough to make ends meet.
“I get about Rs. 1,500 a day and most often we get less than 20 days a month to work which is not sufficient to pay room rent, utility bills and send money for my two daughters who are schooling,” said Nirmala Wijesekera, an employee from the Katunayake FTZ.
Similar sentiments were shared by many others who said they are compelled to find shortcuts and easy ways of making money to look after their families.
“I have not been home for two months as I am unable to afford travelling and not able to see my little son and daughter makes me sad,” said Indranie Samaranayake, an employee from the Biyagama FTZ.
Employees of the FTZ mainly the females are forced not only to live a meagre lifestyle but also compromise on health and safety requirements. Some have to pay a fairly high amount for water and as a result they limit the use of water to a few basins a day which poses a major risk on their health.
Sacrifice morals
Giving into various whims and fancies of senior and managerial level male staff, makes them to sacrifice their morals which challenges work place ethical conduct.
“I was given three days to decide whether I would to like to have my job or fulfill his carnal desire to hush up a mistake that he falsely accused me of committing. I decided to beg on the streets rather than sell my body,” said J. Perera, an FTZ employee who didn’t want to disclose her real name.
On top of all the torture a five-day week proposed for workers by the former Government adds insult to injury.
Many worker welfare and rights activists and organisations said that there is no up-skilling of workers who are given a shabby training on the job and added that the plight of workers who earn a pittance and cannot maintain a healthy lifestyle will aggravate as many (female) workers will not be able to stand the work-load and the additional hours.
If the new rule comes into effect it would be a 10-hour day inclusive of a one- hour break and one to two hours of overtime.
Five-day work week
The General Secretary of the Free Trade Zone and General Services Union, Anton Marcus said if the five-day work week arrangement is enforced, workers will be on their feet for over nine hours a day with no overtime because they would be too tired or not get overtime.
The Managing Director of a company in the Katunayake FTZ said his workers are rewarded according to their performance which is assessed regularly in line with the labour laws and workplace best practices.
Worker-welfare and human rights activitists said staffers at FTZs worked continuously even during the height of the global pandemic and brought in the much- needed foreign exchange to the country.
Sugath Rajapaksa, Coordinator of Shramaabhimani kendraya, a people centred NGO using a rights-based approach to empower poor communities and reduce poverty said, FTZ companies made profits when the currency depreciated but the benefit was not passed on to employees.
He said apparel sector workers at FTZs who help the economy by earning the much-needed foreign exchange for the country are subject to sexual harassment in the workplace.
There has been a rallying for Sri Lanka to implement Convention No. 190 which relates to the elimination of violence and harassment in the world of work.
The International Labour Organization in 2019 adopted Convention No. 190. However, according to Rev. Sr. Noel Christine, the founder of the Shramaabhimani Kendraya, Seeduwa although pledges have been made time and again by the authorities to recognize and enforce the principles of C190 as Law, so far there is nothing as such to address workplace gender-based violence and discrimination.
She said if Convention No. 190 is ratified and incorporated into our legal system, it will help rectify minor shortcomings in some of our Labour Laws.
Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya praised the contribution made by the female workforce to the apparel industry while stressing that women in the sector are not just workers but change-makers, supporting families, communities and the broader economy with resilience and dedication.
The Prime Minister underscored the importance of recognising and valuing the unpaid contribution of these women, who also shoulder significant care responsibilities at home.
She called for improved working conditions, including clean and accessible washrooms, support for menstrual health, childcare and workplaces free from sexual harassment, to create a dignified and supportive environment for women.
