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| Sunday, 16 May 2004 |
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| News Business Features Editorial
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Raising the ALaRM After their global report launch in February, Oxfam has come up with broad policy recommendations for the non-quota situation in the apparel industry, which it calls as "the Multi Fibre Agreement (MFA) crisis."
Four issues for the garment workers have been identified by ALaRM ( apparel industry labour rights movement )a group of unions, labour NGOs, church and support organizations. The issues are a living wage, freedom of association, better living conditions and proper compensation. "ALaRM was established in Katunayake in February this year," said Fr. Reid Shelton, Young Christian's Labour Organisation, a member of the core group working with Oxfam on campaigning for these issues while maintaining a dialogue with the State, trade unions, employers and buyers. The venture is funded by Oxfam. A two month survey study on a living wage had begun in February, said a member of the core group. It is being conducted among 200 women workers in Biyagama, Katunayake and Ekala. "Originally, we planned for a meeting with employers and buyers but it had not happened so far," said Fr. Shelton. Once the survey is completed, such a meeting is expected to be convened through Oxfam. ALaRM fears that about 50 per cent of the small factories might have to close business in the non-quota era when Sri Lanka would have to compete with industry giants such as China and India, with the resultant unemployment for a large number of employees. Although there may be further completion with cheap labour market in Cambodia and Bangladesh, Sri Lanka's reputation as a "high quality" producer might secure the local manufactures a better standing. The stronger apparel manufacturers might step into absorb a certain percentage from the segment to be retrenched, said the core group member. In the Ox fam report, ALaRM names several ways in which the Government, the employers and the buyers can act to reduce the negative impact of the MFA crisis. It recommends the Government to set up a MFA Watch Committee consisting of representatives from Labour, Commerce and BOI, manufacturers, buyers and workers who will continuously monitor the MFA phase out process and co-ordinate activities for reduction of impact. Other recommendations are to co-ordinate structured training and job-search programs for workers who may lose jobs, proper enforcement of labour laws and measures to improve competitiveness of the industry to reduce job losses. The employers are recommended to implement labour law provisions, to provide adequate notice as prescribed by law, pay earned wages and fulfil statutory obligations with respect to EPF and ETF and gratuity, to pay the right compensation, assist retraining and job search for vulnerable employees and reinvest in business, increase management capacity and improve compliance, states the Oxfam report. In the report, the buyers are recommended to respect labour rights and demonstrate responsibility in their purchasing practices by not cutting and returning to cheaper countries, show commitment to the source countries from which the workers, manufacturers and communities belong, give adequate notice period, include verification of compensation provisions as a part of their compliance monitoring and contributing to worker retraining and job search programs. Dialogue involving all stakeholders is seen as desirous in working out feasible procedures. - K.J.L |
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Oxfam says that it is constantly engaged with trade unions, labour NGOs
and other stakeholders on discussions on this issue and its policy
recommendations takes into consideration the views of the women workers in
the industry.
