Forgotten factory workers toil on normal work conditions
View(s):Apparel factory workers are facing a crisis as trade unions claim more are isolated at hostels amid overcrowding of some quarantine centres, insufficient testing and all staff reporting to work adhering to an April guideline not in line with the current circumstances.
Free Trade Zone Manufacturers Association (FTZMA) Secretary General Dhammika Fernando said that they are following the April guidelines and all staff are asked to report to work and 1 per cent of testing is carried out at the factories.
He noted that however, under the circumstances due to the fear of contracting the virus and some being isolated only about 75 per cent are reporting to work at the factories.
“We cope by doing overtime work,” Mr. Fernando said adding that one practical way of handling the situation is by engaging the staff to work extra hours and requesting customers to extend the deadlines and the lead time.
He pointed out that while some customers accept this, others however due to urgent requirements, drop orders and look elsewhere to place their orders.
Meanwhile trade unions allege that workers are asked to isolate when found positive and there is no proper mechanism adopted to disinfect the area or isolate the rest of the staff since workers are inoculated.
FTZ and General Services Employees Union Joint Secretary Anton Marcus said that they have written to the health authorities and the relevant heads of the COVID-19 task force and the Labour Ministry calling for a review of the health guidelines issued in April since it was issued prior to the outbreak of the rapidly spreading Delta variant in the country.
In their letter addressed to the Director General of Health Services it has been stated that while only a very small percentage of workers have received both doses of the COVID-19 vaccine many factories do not subject employees to PCR or Antigen testing because they have already been vaccinated and only 1 per cent are tested which, the trade unions note that this is “no longer relevant.” They have asked for this to be increased to 40 per cent.
Further despite air-conditioned factories being required to keep their air vents open for ventilation this is not practiced and factories operate to ensure the fabric is not affected in terms of quality.