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| Sunday, 22 February 2004 |
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| News Business Features Editorial
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'Change of trade values will benefit poor workers' Trade has the potential to lift millions out of poverty but for that to be a reality, rules of trade must change. These views were expressed by Country representative Oxfam, UK P. Esmonde, at the launch of the publication "Trading away our rights". The publication is a result of a research conducted in 12 countries focusing on women workers in two main industries, the apparel industry and the food processing industry. He said that benefits of trade must be passed on to the poor to give them a better living standard. At present trade barriers, Intellectual property rights hamper the benefits being passed on to the poor. OXFAM has initiated a signature campaign requesting trade to be made fair. Already there are 4 million signatories.In the event trade is increased by five percent it will result in an exports income rising by 350 million $ dollars. Programme Co-ordinator Oxfam International B. Gowthaman said that in Sri Lanka, the research mainly focused on the textile and apparel industry which had a major bearing on the economy. "At present the industry contributes to 53 percent of the exports and 69 percent of the industrial exports. The sector employs 340,000 workers of which 85 percent are women" he added. The industry is heavily dependant on quotas. At present 60 percent of the apparels are exported to USA, while 90 percent of it is quota dependant. With the quota system coming to an end in 2005 it is expected that 1100 categories will be off the quota list" he said. He said that this would result in 40 -50 percent of the industries having to close down and 100,000 -140,000 workers losing the jobs. According to the findings of the survey, most women workers get a salary below the minimum wage without maternity or health coverage,work on fear of dismissal if they complain, have to work overtime at short notice and, most of all,without no access to social insurance. At most times, the impacts of such precarious employment go far beyond the workplace as most women are still expected to raise children and care for the sick and elderly relatives when they become cash earners, states the survey. He said that factory owners should not be solely blamed as they were also a part of the supply chain and the primary motive of the supply chain, was profit, which is the deciding factor. Everybody should respect labour rights and make it an integral part. the governments should stop trading worker rights and comply with labour standards to make trading beneficial for all people. |
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