- JAAF cautions additional strain, together with wage improve, might exacerbate subject
- TU says garment staff dissatisfied with stagnant salaries
Sri Lanka’s attire business is experiencing a downturn, with the export efficiency within the current months not being on the anticipated ranges.
The Joint Attire Affiliation Discussion board (JAAF) stated that the present efficiency is monitoring just like final 12 months, which was US $ 4.5 billion, down some 20 % from 2022.
“The largest problem to our exports is pricing, as Sri Lanka stays uncompetitive within the area,” JAAF Secretary Normal Yohan Lawrence informed Mirror Enterprise.
Pricing stays probably the most vital hurdle for Sri Lanka’s attire exports, because the neighbouring international locations supply extra enticing charges.
He cautioned that any additional strain, together with a rise within the wages, might exacerbate the difficulty, making it even more durable for Sri Lanka to compete on the worldwide stage.
In the meantime, Free Commerce Zones and Normal Companies Workers Union Joint Secretary Anton Marcus shared that the garment sector staff are dissatisfied, as a result of stagnant fundamental salaries. Not like the opposite sectors, the place the wages have elevated, the garment staff haven’t seen comparable changes, resulting in rising frustration among the many workers he stated.
The latest wage improve was seen within the plantation sector, the place the federal government approval was given to extend the every day wages by 70 %.
In accordance with Marcus, the garment sector workers draw a fundamental wage of Rs.16,000.
In 2022, the Nationwide Labour Advisory Council and employers agreed to boost the minimal wage to Rs.21,000. Nonetheless, regardless of the eventual Cupboard approval, the funds haven’t been made, because of an absence of amendments to the present act, he stated, noting that consequently, the garment staff’ fundamental salaries stay at Rs.16,000.
“The garment business staff are important to Sri Lanka’s export financial system. The current wage improve for the tea and rubber staff, elevating their every day earnings to Rs.1,700, highlights vital wage disparities throughout the industries regulated by the Wages Board,” he stated.
“Workers are requesting extra time funds for garment staff however the employers have halted them, citing an absence of orders. Consequently, many garment workers have resigned, unable to maintain themselves on their present salaries,” added Marcus.
Noting that the business wages are set by the Wages Board for the garment business and the Nationwide Minimal Wage Act, the JAAF identified that the Cupboard has already authorized a 40 % improve within the Nationwide Minimal Wage Act. Accordingly, firms have finished their annual increments for the present 12 months, according to these rules.
(Inputs from CPS)