Financial Times

Countdown to the MFA phase out
The Sunday Times FT is launching a new column series titled "Countdown to the MFA phase out", on the crisis facing the garment export industry with the end to textile quotas. The first instalment appears next week and will thereafter appear once a month.

There are some serious concerns about factories closing and workers being laid off after the MFA ends in December 2004. According to some estimates, about 100,000 workers may lose their jobs. On the other hand, the industry and JAAF, a grouping of all sectors of the industry, are also working out plans to minimise the impact.

Many seminars have been organised in recent weeks focusing on the situation and highlighting the need to be prepared for a possible fallout. At one of these meetings, a JAAF official said about 90,000 Sri Lankans working in garment factories in the Middle East were likely to head home as the MFA gets phased out in coming months.

The new series will cover various aspects of the industry with contributions from employers, workers, government agencies, trade unions and other connected sectors. Contributions, which should be kept short (preferably 300-350 words), are welcome and could be emailed to - ft@sundaytimes.wnl.lk

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