Reports From Around The World: Asia And Pacific - factory workers in Sri Lanka - malnutrition in India - women and public policy in Japan - Statistical Data Included

WIN News, Summer, 2001

SRI LANKA: PROBLEMS WOMEN FACE IN EXPORT PROCESSING ZONES

FROM 'ASIAN LABOUR UPDATE', ASIA MONITOR RESOURCE CENTER

444 Nathan Rd., 8-B. Kowloon, HONG KONG; fax: (852) 2332-1346 e-mail: eds@amrc.org.kh

"Sri Lanka has a population of over 19 million that consists of Sinhalese, the majority and Tamils and Muslims as minority groups. Over 50 percent of the population and the labour force of 6.6 million are women.

Although traditionally an agrarian country for over 25 centuries, Sri Lanka's economy underwent a drastic change since she opened her doors to investment in the late 70's as many other Asian countries did, by liberalising trade as a prerequisite of globalisation.

The first Export Processing Zone (EPZ or Free Trade Zone) was opened in June 1978 in Katunayake, for the production of export-oriented goods only. Foreign investors from European, American and East Asian countries were lured by many incentives such as relaxation of labour laws, long tax holidays etc.

But the main attraction was an educated, intelligent and submissive work force consisting of young women whose labour could be exploited with overwork and low wages. The minimum wage is approximately US$40. In many factories annual increments and government stipulated wage increases are not granted promptly.

The incentives offered and concessions granted to investors have resulted in workers getting a raw deal with long working hours including compulsory overtime and almost impossible hourly targets to complete orders in time. They are scolded in abusive language by supervisors and managers (both local and foreign) for the slightest mistake and sometimes hit too.

Workers in most factories are forced to limit answering their 'calls of nature' by the use of a 'toilet token'. The monthly attendance incentive is denied when workers are a few minutes late in reporting to work on a couple of occasions. Their total leave entitlement is 21 days per annum. In some factories new recruits are not allowed any leave until they have worked for one whole year.

Health and safety measures at some factories are not adequate and there have been several cases of industrial accidents...Whereas the government spent millions on providing infrastructure for companies in EPZs, they did not build any hostels to house the influx of migrant workers1 mainly from rural areas all over the island. The majority of these migrant workers are young women in their late teens and early twenties who are herded together inside small rooms in temporary structures hurriedly put up adjacent to private homes. They have to cook meals in a communal kitchen at each lodging house or in their shared rooms. The majority sleep on the floor though in some places two women share double beds.

Most companies provide no transport for women who finish the night shift at 10 or 11 p.m. and public transport is scarce late at night many women encounter trouble when returning along ill-lit roads to their crowded boarding places.

The women workers send money regularly to poor parents in villages far away. They lack family protection so unscrupulous men, take advantage of their vulnerability, resulting sometimes in unwanted pregnancies and abortions. Although they toil hard bringing in the major portion of much needed foreign exchange to Sri Lanka, EPZ women workers are usually held in very low esteem by society. SRI LANKA

The government neglects them and the other major contributors to the national economy, i.e. the migrant women who work in the Gulf countries as housemaids, or pluck tea leaves in our plantations... The problems of EPZ workers are aggravated as there are no trade unions to fight for labour rights. 23 percent of formal sector workers are organised in trade unions, but since the inception of EPZs formation of unions has been discouraged through intimidation, demotion, and dismissal of leaders.

SRI LANKA

Workers' councils were introduced by the government as a weak alternative to

trade unions and in several factories they consist of worker representatives chosen by the employers and not elected by workers independently.

Since year 2000, some national and local level trade unions have been able to form union branches in a handful of factories. It is indeed a positive step towards safeguarding worker's rights but its success has yet to be seen. In 1998, the International Labour Organisation (ILO) requested information on any progress made in collective bargaining in EPZs by the government.

The government indicated that Article 4 of ILO Convention No.98 is applied in all sectors of the economy including EPZs but that details on collective agreements were not yet available.

The ILO urged the government to provide more details and concrete information about EPZs and industrial establishments including the number of collective agreements concluded and the number of workers covered."

AALOCHANA - CENTRE FOR DOCUMENTATION & RESEARCH ON WOMEN

86/11B "Kedar", Kanchan Galli, Erandwane, Pune 411 004, INDIA

fax: 91-20-544 4122; e-mail: alochana@vsnl.com INDIA