FTZ workers back in their homes but some suffer without wages     

All Free Trade Zones (FTZs) across Sri Lanka have been closed until further notice following an agreement to pay wages of all workers and 20,000 stranded employees were sent home with the assistance of the security forces.
This was the result of a request made by the Free Trade Zones and General Services Employees Union from the Minister of Industrial Export and Investment Promotion Prasanna Ranatunga and Army Commander Lieutenant General Shavendra Silva who is the Chairmen of the Task Force appointed by the President, Joint Secretary of the Union Anton Marcus said. 
The Minister had instructed the country’s investment promotion agency Board of Investment to close all the FTZs in the country until further notice.
Accordingly all the employees with their families were being sent by buses to their respective villages and they will be under strict observation of district Medical Officers of Health and Public Health Inspectors.   
Mr. Marcus said that their union is having direct touch with those government officers who are in charge of this process and the union is monitoring the process.
Some of the companies have remitted the wages of employees to their bank accounts, he said adding that the union is discussing with the Labour Ministry to direct other employers to follow suit.
Some of the garment factory owners noted that their customers have informed them that not to send finished orders because all their warehouses are closed and they will not transfer the funds.
Therefore, they have informed the union that they will not be able to pay wages to employees for next month, he revealed.
Therefore he urged the government to find some redress for employees who will face financial difficulties due to these employers’ decision of not paying wages for workers due to the cancellation of finished goods orders. (BS)