- JAAF cautions additional stress, together with wage improve, might exacerbate challenge
- TU says garment staff dissatisfied with stagnant salaries
Sri Lanka’s attire trade is experiencing a downturn, with the export efficiency within the latest months not being on the anticipated ranges.
The Joint Attire Affiliation Discussion board (JAAF) stated that the present efficiency is monitoring much like final yr, 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 Common Yohan Lawrence informed Mirror Enterprise.
Pricing stays probably the most vital hurdle for Sri Lanka’s attire exports, because the neighbouring nations provide extra enticing charges.
He cautioned that any additional stress, 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 Common Providers Workers Union Joint Secretary Anton Marcus shared that the garment sector staff are dissatisfied, because of the stagnant fundamental salaries. In contrast to the opposite sectors, the place the wages have elevated, the garment staff haven’t seen related changes, resulting in rising frustration among the many staff he stated.
The latest wage improve was seen within the plantation sector, the place the federal government approval was given to extend the each day wages by 70 %.
In accordance with Marcus, the garment sector staff draw a fundamental wage of Rs.16,000.
In 2022, the Nationwide Labour Advisory Council and employers agreed to lift the minimal wage to Rs.21,000. Nevertheless, regardless of the eventual Cupboard approval, the funds haven’t been made, as a result of a scarcity of amendments to the present act, he stated, noting that because of this, the garment staff’ fundamental salaries stay at Rs.16,000.
“The garment trade staff are very important to Sri Lanka’s export financial system. The latest wage improve for the tea and rubber staff, elevating their each day earnings to Rs.1,700, highlights vital wage disparities throughout the industries regulated by the Wages Board,” he stated.
“Workers are requesting time beyond regulation funds for garment staff however the employers have halted them, citing a scarcity of orders. Because of this, many garment staff have resigned, unable to maintain themselves on their present salaries,” added Marcus.
Noting that the trade wages are set by the Wages Board for the garment trade and the Nationwide Minimal Wage Act, the JAAF identified that the Cupboard has already accepted a 40 % improve within the Nationwide Minimal Wage Act. Accordingly, firms have achieved their annual increments for the present yr, in keeping with these rules.
(Inputs from CPS)
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