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FTZs request Minister for more allowances

17 Sep 2021

BY Buddhika Samaraweera The trade unions within the exports manufacturing sector have requested Labour Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva to take the necessary steps to pay a special allowance and a risk allowance to those working in the free trade zones (FTZs), who make a direct and significant contribution to the country’s economy in the current Covid-19 pandemic situation. In a letter to de Silva, the Standup Employees Union Secretary Ashila Dandeniya has stated that the direct and significant contribution of the FTZs, including in the garment industry, to the country’s economy was well reflected in the recent address made to the nation by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa. She further said that today, the country is unable to move forward without the support of employees in the export sector, and added that exporters are gaining a significant amount of foreign exchange gains due to the falling exchange rate and the appreciation of the US dollar. “Even so, workers in factories across the country, which make the highest contribution to the country’s production process, are in a risky situation, and they are not getting this benefit, while they also face an unfortunate situation due to the non-payment of wages, halving of the monthly wages, and complete cuts to all allowances,” she added. Considering the matter, Dandeniya has requested in the letter that a programme be formulated expeditiously to provide them with a special allowance for the significant contribution they are making at this moment, along with another risk allowance since they are working in a risky environment due to the prevailing Covid-19 pandemic situation. The letter has also been copied to the Labour Commissioner General (CG) Prabath Chandrakeerthi.  


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