By Sunimalee Dias The government is looking at the possibility of re-applying for EU GSP plus concessions that would assist the apparel industry, which was recently feeling the pinch from the lack of it. The Commerce Department is in discussion with exporters on this matter, Trade and Commerce Minister Rishad Bathiudeen told the Business Times. [...]

The Sundaytimes Sri Lanka

Govt. powwow over GSP +

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By Sunimalee Dias

The government is looking at the possibility of re-applying for EU GSP plus concessions that would assist the apparel industry, which was recently feeling the pinch from the lack of it.

The Commerce Department is in discussion with exporters on this matter, Trade and Commerce Minister Rishad Bathiudeen told the Business Times.

He noted that it was still at the discussion stage and they were trying to understand the government mechanism that needs to be adopted in this regard.

Trade and Commerce Ministry Secretary Anura Siriwardena said the External Affairs Ministry and the Commerce Department were working on this subject. He pointed out that the GSP plus concessions were important to the country but declined to comment any further.

Recently Labour Minister Gamini Lokuge observed that apparel industry investors had closed shop and left the country without paying any dues to the local workforce in terms of EPF and ETF.

FTZ Workers Union General Secretary Anton Marcus told the Business Times that it would serve well if the GSP plus concessions were obtained but it was important that the apparel industry owners provide the right working environment for the workers.He pointed out that lately companies were looking at reducing the working week to five days from the present five-and-a-half days and increasing the number of hours from the present eight to nine without overtime.

Mr. Marcus observed that this was a clear violation of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) Convention.

Sri Lanka lost GSP plus concessions in August 2010 after the EU raised issues concerning labour rights.

In the face of these developments the country would stand to lose if it continued to lack the necessary concessions to market effectively in the EU since most other Asian nations like India and Pakistan were now considering obtaining these concessions.Sri Lanka is trying to secure support from friendly countries prior to the upcoming Geneva Human Rights meeting and rectifying issues relating to labour rights could be some compromise with the west, some analysts believe.




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