Abimani campaign a success

by Imantha Caldera

[email protected]

The garment industry is a key revenue earner for the country while generating thousands of employment opportunities for youth.

The garment industry earned around $ 3,341.7 million in year 2007 in foreign exchange compared to the previous year, a growth of 8.5%.

More than 85 per cent of the workforce in this sector are females.

The attitude and social apprehensions towards young girls working in the garment sector is somewhat negative.

This should change because they work hard to earn foreign exchange for the country.

The Joint Apparel Association forum (JAAF) has launched a campaign called Abimani to give dignity to the employees in the garment sector.

The primary objective of this campaign is to dispel myths about the female garment worker and the wrong notion of the society.

JAAF organised a media tour for journalists last week to highlight the development and progress which has been achieved under the Abimani campaign.

The journalists were able to see first-hand the facilities and benefits that have been provided to the workers in garment factories such as Hidramani at Kahathuduwa, Sanchia, Bandaragama and Orit in Avissawella.

Over one-thousand workers in these three factories are provided with transportation, medical facilities and financial support for their needs. They work in an air-conditioned environment with computerised machinery.