Most garment workers in Sri Lanka have not been receiving the Emergency Relief Allowances (ERA) of LKR 10,000 ($27) on top of their monthly wages.
Instead of making workers and their representatives a part of the solution, the new Sri Lankan government is ignoring its obligation to engage in social dialogue with unions and using draconian emergency laws to crack down on protesters.
The allegations have come in a brief titled No Relief? Why clothing brands must take responsibility for worker relief payments amidst the economic crisis in Sri Lanka.
The Backdrop: The financial and political crisis that started over a year ago in Sri Lanka and led to the ousting of the president, put an immense burden on the about 350,000 garment workers in the country who were already living on subsistence incomes.
- The ERA was instituted in response to requests from the unions to counter the devastating effects of currency devaluation and rampant inflation on workers’ livelihoods.
- However, workers have received far less than the ERA, or nothing, and bonuses have only been paid out under certain conditions such as perfect attendance.
- Several attempts by organisations to engage with the main garment brands sourcing from the country urging them to take action to safeguard the livelihoods of the workers that enable their profits have had little effect thus far.
- Garment brands which produce in Sri Lanka include PVH (Calvin Klein, Tommy Hilfiger), Gap, Nike, Victoria's Secret, Amazon, Asos, Next, Marks & Spencer, Patagonia, Columbia Sportswear, Ralph Lauren and others.
The Report: This brief was created by a coalition of unions and labour rights organisations within the Clean Clothes Campaign network, including the Clean Clothes Campaign International Office, the Free Trade Zones and General Service Employees Union, the International Union Educational League, Labour Behind the Label, Maquila Solidarity Network, and War on Want.
The Demands: Unions are urging that brands sourcing from Sri Lanka to support the highest possible standards in their supply chain which include:
- Ensuring that their suppliers do not endorse or encourage a weakening of labour protections, in contravention of ILO standards; including proposals to increase the number of hours of overtime for female employees from 60 hours to 75 hours per month, the number of days of night work for female employees from 10 days to 15 days per month, and the abolition of Termination of Employment Special Act No. 45 of 1971 which assured workers’ protection from arbitrary termination.
- That brands ensure that existing terms and conditions conforming to ILO standards and involving stable pricing, contract terms, and working standards are kept, and working protections (including maximum working hours) are not reduced regardless of any possible rollback of labour rights in Sri Lanka.
- That brands and suppliers engage with the Sri Lanka authorities to ensure that workers involved in peaceful protests or freedom of association activities are protected against arbitrary detention and the imposition of sweeping powers for security forces.
- That brands ensure and where necessary provide financial support to their suppliers so that Emergency Relief Allowance payments of 10,000 LKR are applied to all workers in their supply chain.
