Apparel industry workforce, factories hit hard by floods
Sri Lanka’s apparel industry is facing a severe adverse impact in the aftermath of the cyclone that hit the country last week as 20 per cent of their workers in the flood affected areas are still finding it hard to get back to normal.
Joint Apparel Association Forum (JAAF) Deputy Chairman and Omega Line Chairman/MD Felix Fernando said that while about 15 large factories have been directly impacted about 20 per cent of the industry’s workforce in the affected areas were facing the floods.
A statement issued by JAAF said they had activated an industry-wide relief and recovery effort following severe weather disruptions. And noted: “Our industry’s resilience comes from our people. We are committed to standing with every employee affected by this disaster, and we are working with our members and the Government to ensure immediate recovery and long-term support.”
Some factories in Kotmale, Mahiyangana, Kurunegala, Badulla and Kandy faced massive losses but it is uncertain as to the extent of the damage to the machinery and even fabrics in the factories.
Employees in these areas were also impacted particularly in the Badulla, Kandy, Nuwara Eliya and Kotmale areas.
“We don’t know if there are casualties or not since communication is still not available,” Mr. Fernando said on Thursday adding that in some places they had found that houses of employees were either partly or completely damaged.
In addition employees in Giriulla, Kochchikade and Chilaw were also impacted as a result of the floods.
Mr. Fernando said that one of their own employees with her two kids were rescued through the floodwaters on Wednesday, five days after floods hit the area.
“We found that many people were left with only what they were wearing that day,” he said clearly indicating they had been completely taken unawares and destruction happened almost immediately.
Some were in fact living quite a distance from the rivers but were still impacted by over flows as a result of the incessant rains and it was a first for many as water levels had risen as much as 30ft, he said. Mr. Fernando said exports will be a concern as although some factories are operational most others facing the impact of the floods are still closed, partially opened and some running on either full or low workforce depending on the area they are located.
He noted that buyers were now more concerned about the loss of lives and not about production and the factories are also focusing on the health of their workers at the moment.
While some are unable to move out of their homes, others prefer to come to work in a bid to get out of the pathetic situation back home.
Some areas (where workers are resident) are still unreachable and it will take time for normalcy to return as some factories are completely inundated with water, JAAF Spokesman Yohan Lawrence told The Sunday Times Business.
He noted that they were compelled to airlift food to residents in Kotmale and Nuwara Eliya areas and insisted that “right now it’s more about reaching out to them”.
Mr. Lawrence said that in a number of remote locations the factories were serving as shelters for their people and housed them since the buildings provided a safe and secure place until they could move back to their homes.
A high level of absenteeism is reported as a result of the floods in most of the affected areas while in other areas the factories are operational, he noted.
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