Unions blame employers and Labour Dept. for COVID spread in apparel factories

Apparel sector employers and the Labour Department must take responsibility for the island-wide spread of COVID-19 in apparel factories, the Free Trade Zones & General Services Employees' Union states. 

Issuing a media statement signed by its Joint Secretary Anton Marcus, the union points out that large numbers of apparel sector workers had fallen victim to COVID-19 during the last few days. It notes that a Labour Department investigation is already taking place after several hundred workers at MAS Thulhiriya garment factory became infected with COVID-19 several days ago. A similar investigation was ordered after the Brandix factory in Minuwangoda reported mass infections in October last year. But the outcome of that investigation is yet unknown, the union points out. 

Meanwhile, a factory in Bandaragama was reported closed due to COVID-19 virus infection of workers. Infection of workers were also reported from factories in Norwood, Pallekele and Mullaitivu. A few weeks ago factories in Mirigama, Galigamuwa, Avissawella, Kegalle, Mawanella, Hasalaka had reported infections among workers. In some places villagers had demanded closure of factories. Some were anyway closed by management, the statement adds. 

Unions had proposed the formation of "Factory Health Committees” (FHCs) with worker representation in all factories in the country, and it was first discussed in the Tri-partite Task Force Committee chaired by then Minister of Labour, Dinesh Gunawardena. The Tri-partite Task Force Committee was established under his chairmanship to resolve labour issues related COVID-19 and was constituted by employers, workers’ trade unions and the Labour Ministry. This Task Force took upon itself the responsibility of controlling the pandemic especially in the export manufacture sector, the union reveals. 

"Yet with the Labour Department not making any effort to facilitate the formation of FHCs, as reported by our district trade union co-ordinators, no employer had allowed formation of FHCs. Employers knew too well, with such FHCs they will not be able to exploit the workers as they wish to," the statement claims.

Meanwhile, the Tri-partite Task Force Committee has not convened since March 3 to discuss the situation and take necessary measures. Even requests for the Committee to meet via Zoom have fallen on deaf ears and the Task Force Committee remains defunct, the union alleges.

"It should therefore be stressed here, the major reason for thousands of factory workers to have got infected in this manner is due to the irresponsibility of employers and the Labour Department. Their irresponsibility has not only left employees extremely insecure, but their families and their roommates too," the union asserts. 

The issure can only be resolved by carrying out a COVID-19 preventive healthcare programme through Medical Officers of Health (MOH) offices while including FHCs with worker representation, the statement stresses. "We therefore appeal to the government to direct relevant authorities to ensure all FHCs are registered with relevant MOH offices with details about committee members enabling PHIs to regularly monitor their activities," it concludes.