• Union says denial of timely treatment counts as workplace accident 

The Commercial and Industrial Workers Union (CIWU) President, attorney Swasthika Arulingam claimed that although the relevant Government institutions repeatedly state that systems are in place to safeguard private sector workers, the reality shows serious failures in ensuring their safety and well-being.

Speaking to The Daily Morning yesterday (23), she said that the situation regarding the death of a garment factory employee in October 2025 revealed gaps in labour protection and well-being. Explaining the incident, she said that a 44-year-old worker employed at a garment factory in the Free Trade Zone in Avissawella had complained of feeling unwell since the morning of the day of her death. 

“She had told three co-workers that she was sick and had asked her supervisor several times for permission to leave, but was not allowed to go home. The worker was later admitted to the Avissawella Base Hospital on the same day and died there." Arulingam added the CIWU became involved after factory employees informed them the relevant company planned to provide only Rs. 170,000 to the family of the deceased. 

"Following this, we lodged complaints with the Human Rights Commission (HRC), the Avissawella Police, and the Labour Department." She alleged that the company began to intimidate parties involved in the matter such as the workers, the deceased's family, and the CIWU representatives soon after the complaints were lodged. 

“When our organisers went to distribute leaflets in Avissawella, around 20 to 30 individuals wearing factory uniforms threatened and verbally abused them. We complained to the Police and the factory, but, no action has been taken,” she said, adding that the deceased had been living in a rubber estate and that representatives connected to the factory had later got the relevant estate management to urge her husband to accept the company’s offer. Arulingam added that the HRC was examining whether Government institutions failed to protect private sector workers, since its powers over private companies are limited. 

She further said the District Labour Office initially refused to categorise the death as a workplace accident. “The authorities think that only physical injuries count. We asked them, ‘If a worker is denied permission to seek medical treatment and dies afterwards, isn’t that a workplace accident?’,” she said, noting that an official inquiry is still underway. She added the incident reflects the situation faced by garment sector employees and private sector workers in general. 

“Government Departments including the Labour Department come to the media and say that protections exist, workers don’t experience them in practice. This case shows why the State must immediately intervene and also develop long-term plans to ensure the safety, health, and dignity of workers."

Labour Ministry Secretary, S.M. Piyatissa was not available for comment.