Government urged to safeguard FTZ employees’ rights

Asila Dandeniya Executive Director of Stand-Up Movement Lanka said that the government should pay close attention to solving long felt workers’ issues in the Free Trade Zones.

She emphasised that since the employees of the Free Trade Zones (FTZs) have been suffering from various professional, social and economic problems for a long time, the relevant authorities should focus on providing prompt and fair solutions to these problems.

She said that the workers’ rights of the employees working in the FTZs are violated very severely and she also stated that the job security of the employees working in the FTZs through “Manpower” supplying agencies is at a minimum level.

Providing legal protection, creating social security and setting up a social security programme is also an essential factor for workers employed in FTZs.

H. Prabodhani, who has been working in the Katunayake FTZ for seven years under a manpower agency, pointed out that employers do not care about not only job security but also life security or industrial safety. And these employees are not entitled to employee protection or insurance benefits. Because of this, workers who suffer from industrial accidents have to pay for treatment from their own money.

She also emphasised that the service does not deserve a salary and this situation is none other than labour exploitation.

“Manpower workers should also have the same privileges as other regular workers. They don’t have any holidays. If they take a leave, they don’t get paid for that day,” she pointed out.

Because of this, she said that all workers in FTZs should have equal rights even though it is manpower.

Sidharan Nilamani stated that the monthly salary received by FTZs workers is not enough to live on. She said that after spending on accommodation, food and essential expenses, there is very little money left and it is a dream to prosper the future life.

She further stated that there are many health, social and safety issues and this is why the current generation is reluctant to join the service of free trade zones. A FTZ worker who is a transgender mentioned that people like him face various problems. This employee stated that they are not given the opportunity to enter any of the toilets, especially at the institutional level, for men or women, and because of this, they are in a very difficult situation.

Therefore, the employees’ representation emphasised that it is the responsibility of the authorities to provide quick and positive solutions to the problems faced by the workers of the FTZs.

The post Government urged to safeguard FTZ employees’ rights appeared first on DailyNews.