BOI launches ‘Day Care Centre’ and pre-school at Katunayake Export Processing Zone to help workers
View(s):A Day Care Centre and pre-school was launched last week for the children of workers employed at the factories in the Katunayake Export Processing Zone (KEPZ). This project was initiated by the Board of Investment of Sri Lanka (BOI) along with the Manufacturer’s Association of the KEPZ.
“This centre is very significant as it provides considerable assistance to skilled female workers who found it difficult in the past to work and bring up their children at the same time. Many well trained employees were forced to stop working due to this problem. BOI enterprises will also benefit as they faced a problem of finding suitable candidates to fill vacancies at the Zone. Hence this action taken by the BOI and Manufacturers Association addresses an important requirement of workers and also the enterprises at the KEPZ,” the BOI said in a media release.
Fazal Abdeen, President of the KEPZ Manufacturer’s Association, said that this proposal had been discussed for some time as it would help build the image of Sri Lanka’s zones, provide assistance to workers and also ensure employee retention by the KEPZ enterprises. However when Upul Jayasuriya took over as Chairman BOI, some months ago, he had initiated steps to immediately start the centre at the zone, the release said.
Initially the centre will accommodate a total of 50 children between the age group of 2 and 5 years. This intake will be increased as per the demand. The facility will be provided with frequent visits by doctors to take care of the health requirements of the children. The centre will also have educational and recreational facilities. BOI and the enterprises will monitor the centre to ensure high standards of service.