Various garment industry unions in Sri Lanka signed a groundbreaking agreement on Monday with the Joint Apparel Association Forum (JAAF) employers, in which both parties agreed on how to address key issues affecting the workplace of garment workers in particular during the pandemic.
Unions and workers groups in Sri Lanka have campaigned for better working conditions, effective worker protection during the pandemic and an end to anti-union activity. While the establishment of health committees and assurances of freedom of association were the first to be tackled during the pandemic, the more complex issue of wages is not yet on the document. Poverty wages must also be addressed, as employees are currently not benefiting from the rising export rates of the textile and clothing industry in Sri Lanka.
Health committees, freedom of association addressed
Organizations such as the Clean Clothes Campaign, Labor behind the Label, Maquila Solidarity Network, Solidarity Center, War on Want and Workers United call the agreement “historic” and welcome the important progress this agreement represents between unions and employers.
“We welcome the fact that regardless of the agreement signed, unions and employers have agreed to continue working together to investigate and address the issue of wage losses during the pandemic. We hope for a timely and transparent solution to compensate the employees, and that the brands and retailers will also take responsibility for settling the loss of wages, ”said a press release.
Living wages have yet to be addressed
“This is the first time that an industrial sector is represented in a bilateral agreement with employee representatives. …. It is also the first time that representatives of employers and employees have agreed on occupational health management through bilateral health committees, “emphasize the undersigned Sri Lankan unions, the Free Trade Zones & General Service Employees Union, the National Union of Seafarers Sri Lanka & National Union of Migrant Workers Sri Lanka and Sri Lanka Nidahas Sewaka Sangamaya in a joint statement.
“This agreement helps to balance the power imbalance between employees and employers. It provides joint support for the bilateral health committees and a bilateral dispute settlement mechanism, all of which were important demands made by the Sri Lankan trade unions on factory owners during the pandemic, ”comments Ineke Zeldenrust, international coordinator of the Clean Clothes Campaign.
“This agreement is very important and the result of strong organizing, campaigning and negotiating in the difficult circumstances of the pandemic which has had dire effects on clothing workers in Sri Lanka. Significantly, it explicitly covers the rights of the many workers in the free zones, which is long overdue, ”added Edgar Romney, Treasurer of Workers United.