SL has a deep-seated relationship with buyers, JAAF SG says

The book authored by Ms. Kanchana N. Ruwanpura titled “Garments without Guilt? Global Labour Justice and Ethical Codes in Sri Lankan Apparels” has cast a shadow on the apparel sector per se but is a template for setting things right in the correct perspective.

“What motivated me to write this book was that the apparel sector in Sri Lanka has avoided the negative spotlight of the media sector. In some areas the apparel sector has done well and in other areas have tried to shift their focus on their shortcomings,” said Kanchana N. Ruwanpura of the University of Gothenburg, Sweden at her book launch held at the Colombo 80 Club recently.

She said during the tenure of President R. Premadasa and his 200 garment factories’ concept, many garment factory managers and other employees saw the sector as a milestone. Referring to the Sri Lankan Labour Department she said officials do not shy away from problems but work within constraints owing to politicisation of the department. Answering a question raised by a panel member she said soon after the war ended in the north, many in the communities living in those areas have been fearful of the army to work in the garment factories set up in those areas initially.

Secretary General of the Joint Apparel Association Forum, Yohan Lawrence said that the author of the book has done a thorough examination of the apparel sector during the past 10 years highlighting issues pertaining to the industry. He said in terms of the apparel sector in Sri Lanka, the law is grey in some areas but the courts have been able interpret these laws over the years in such areas as identifying labour rights issues, taking preventive action and mitigating risks etc. The author has correctly identified the role of the female worker in her journey in the garment industry. During the post pandemic era the buyers did go away from Sri Lanka but helped garment factories to keep running and to protect the workforce. During the pandemic the Department of Labour, the private sector industry and the trade unions signed a tripartite agreement to protect workers which nobody has done before. “We also have deep-seated relationships with our buyers,” he said

Ms. Shyamain Wickremasinghe, Visiting Fellow, University of Sussex, UK, said Sri Lanka is one the first countries to have a multinational code of ethics for garment factories to abide by certain international standards. The author of the book visited garment factories outside Colombo and lived among the garment employees to gain an insight into their working conditions many years ago. She also had discussions with industry stakeholders, factory managers and union leaders to gather more data on working conditions of garment factory employees.