News
Labour rights organisations urge brands to take responsibility for their workers in Sri Lanka
A new research brief published by Clean Clothes Campaign (CCC) reveals that workers in Sri Lanka have not been receiving the full Emergency Relief Allowances meant to alleviate their desperate situation in the wake of the current severe economic crisis in the country. The brief calls on major brands sourcing from Sri Lanka to take responsibility for their workers’ survival as well as their right to organise and to decent labour standards.
The financial and political crisis that started over a year ago in Sri Lanka and led to the ousting of the president has put an immense burden on the about 350,000 garment workers in the country who were already living on subsistence incomes. Instead of making workers and their representatives 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.
Research published today shows that most workers have also not been receiving the Emergency Relief Allowances (ERA) of 10,000 LKR (27 USD) on top of their monthly wages. 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. 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 in the CCC network 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. This brief calls upon these brands to ensure that the workers in their Sri Lankan supply chains are paid the ERA unconditionally and that their right to organise and to have decent working conditions in line with the Conventions of the International Labour Organisation are safeguarded.
Anton Marcus, joint secretary of the Free Trade Zones & General Services Employees’ Union, the largest union representing garment workers in the country, said: “Brands have a responsibility to the workers that enable their profits. They must ensure that the factories they source from pay their workers the 10,000 LKR (US$ 27) Emergency Relief Allowance. If factories are not able to do so, then brands should step in and contribute financially to make it possible. The Sri Lankan garment workers have contributed to making these brands rich, the least these brands can do is to ensure their workers get through this crisis.”
The Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CEYPETCO) has announced a revision of fuel prices, effective from midnight on Saturday (May 30).
Accordingly,
the price of Auto Diesel has been increased by Rs. 15 to Rs.407 per liter,
the price of Super Diesel has been increased by Rs. 20 to Rs. 478 per liter.
the price of Petrol 92 Octane has been increased by Rs. 24 to Rs. 434 per liter
the price of Petrol 95 Octane up by Rs. 25 to Rs. 495 per liter
the price of kerosene by Rs. 20 to Rs. 285 per liter.
Former President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga has called for a comprehensive reform programme within Sri Lanka’s Buddhist clergy, warning that repeated efforts to strengthen the Sasana have in the past been derailed by opposition from within sections of the Sangha itself.
In a statement addressed to the Mahanayake Theras of the three Buddhist chapters, Kumaratunga stressed that the long-term preservation of Buddhism depends on safeguarding both the Dhamma and Vinaya, or disciplinary code, and urged urgent internal reform to address what she described as deep-rooted structural weaknesses.
She noted that Buddhist history has consistently demonstrated that periods of institutional crisis were addressed through reform processes, citing precedents from the First Buddhist Council to reforms during the Kandyan era under Welivita Sri Saranankara Thera.
Referring to post-independence efforts, Kumaratunga said initiatives taken during the 1956 Bandaranaike administration to strengthen Buddhism were left incomplete following the assassination of former Prime Minister S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike.
She further stated that during her own presidency, plans to convene a Buddhist Council under the guidance of the late Madihe Pannasiha Mahanayake Thera had received government backing but were ultimately abandoned due to resistance from certain sections within the clergy.
The former President alleged that, on both occasions, vested interests benefiting from existing weaknesses within the Buddhist establishment had worked to obstruct meaningful reform efforts.
Warning that Buddhism in Sri Lanka is currently facing serious challenges, she called for a broad internal dialogue within the Sangha to identify root causes and implement both short- and long-term corrective measures.
Kumaratunga urged the Mahanayake Theras to take the lead in convening a Dharma Sanghayana, or Buddhist Council, and said she was prepared to work with senior lay Buddhist leaders to support such an initiative.
The Colombo Fort Magistrate’s Court on Friday ordered the arrest of former Minister Basil Rajapaksa, Tourism Promotion Bureau Chairman Bhashwara Gunaratne, Managing Director Rumi Jauffer and several others over the alleged misuse of Rs. 7.8 million belonging to the Tourism Promotion Authority during the 2014 Uva Provincial Council election campaign.
Magistrate Pasan Amarasena directed the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) to arrest and produce the suspects before court, after it was informed that they would be named under the Public Property Act on the advice of the Attorney General.
The CID told court that attempts to take the suspects into custody from their residences had been unsuccessful as they were not present.
The Magistrate also imposed an overseas travel ban on the suspects and ordered that the Controller of Immigration and Emigration be notified.
Investigations have reportedly revealed that the funds were used to print 12,000 T-shirts bearing an image of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa on one side and the name of a political party on the other.
According to the CID, the T-shirts were later distributed at a political event held in the Monaragala District.
‘Disappointing’ – Sangakkara on Sam Curran turning out for Surrey with IPL still on
Truck carrying Afghan returnees from Pakistan flips on highway, killing 18
PSG beat Arsenal to win back-to-back Champions League titles after shootout
What Hegseth’s comments at Shangri-La Dialogue say about US foreign policy
Home comfort vs championship pedigree as Gujarat Titans and Royal Challengers Bengaluru collide in IPL 2026 final
Minhas’ record-breaking debut sets up handsome Pakistan victory
‘Dates have the highest sugar content to fight Coronavirus’
Sunday Island 27 December – Headlines
#SundayIsland 17th December – Headlines
Sunday Island – 28th March
Sunday Island Headlines – 21 March
Sunday Island – 21st February – Headlines
-
News6 days agoPolice probe underway to ascertain links between criminals deported from UAE and local politicians
-
News5 days agoEaster Sunday carnage: Court told Maulana’s statement cannot be accepted without cross-examination
-
News1 day agoIMF urges Lanka not to meddle with exchange rate
-
Opinion5 days agoUndermining the democratic political framework
-
News5 days agoUK passport holder hiding here wants to have deportation order rescinded to leave without blemish
-
Features2 days agoThe Division Bell Mystery
-
News6 days agoDickoya double murder suspect arrested
-
Midweek Review4 days agoIsraeli-US aggression won’t go unanswered -Iranian Ambassador