Women want job security, tariffs’ crisis affect 6 m dependents
Women working in Sri Lanka’s key export industries numbering nearly 1 million are likely to face job cuts and loss of incomes if the 44 per cent US tariffs imposed on the country comes into effect at the end of the 90-day pause.
Women in Sri Lanka are employed in some of the main industries that generate the largest revenue to the country.
These women produce apparel, tea, gems, rubber and cinnamon that form the key industries exporting to the US market, Women’s Centre Executive Director Padmini Weerasuriya said at a media briefing held in Colombo on Wednesday. The Women’s Centre has joined hands with 25 other women’s organisations to carry out their campaign against the US tariffs hindering the women workers.
Their take home pay will drop significantly if the tariffs are imposed as orders dip and the approximately six million dependents will be severely impacted as most women are the breadwinners of their families.
These women need job security as factories are already talking about the possible retrenchment of workers if US tariffs are imposed as demand is likely to drop, it was noted.
The apparel sector will be impacted significantly and when compared to India and Bangladesh they face a competition as the tariffs imposed on Sri Lanka at 44 per cent is higher than those countries, Ms. Weerasuriya said.
She explained that as a result it could lead to even factory closures impacting on the over 350,000 women working in the apparel sector.
The Women’s Centre Project Manager Gayani Gomes noted that the government believes that should Sri Lanka lose out in their negotiations the loss from the tariffs can be generated from other sectors like tourism.
However, she noted the government seems to be blind to the fact that these tariffs are affecting the global populace and its impact on the rest of the global community would mean less people will travel as a result of a possible global economic recession.
This would mean taxes within Sri Lanka will increase and thereby impacting on the rest of the economy, Ms. Gomes said.
The government is not taking into account the concerns of trade unions as they have not engaged them in the discussions on US tariffs.
The women’s groups commenced a signature campaign from Katunayaka Free Trade Zone and also their May Day rally with the participation of about 350 workers.
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