JAAF entices rural youth for apparel sector

Over 30,000 vacancies within next five years:

Indunil HEWAGE

Sri Lankan apparel industry is looking to draw additional 20,000 to 30,000 employees within the next five years in the face of rapid expansion of garment factories.

Job registration at the Buttala Deyata Kirula exhibition

Joint Apparel Association Forum (JAAF) Secretary General M P T Cooray said many rural youth find difficulties when working in the trade zones as they have to pay extra money for lodging and meals.

JAAF is taking measures to employ rural youth in the regional factories giving them some comfort to work in their living areas. He said there are some vacancies in various segments in the apparel sector in the face of the rapid expansion process of garment factories. In addition many leading garment factories are in the process of taking over some closed down factories in the country and this will help to have a steady workforce in the apparel sector. Even though seamstress participation in the apparel industry accounts for 80 percent, it is gradually decreasing due to various reasons and it is the responsibility of authorities to mop up the unhealthy social image created on female workers in the industry.

Cooray also said the JAAF stall, which was set up in the recently held Deyata Kirula exhibition had received 1850 applications from people wiling to work in the apparel industry.

JAAF authorities are now processing the large applications received at Deyata Kirula, which will be handed over to the relevant factories for consideration.

The industry has presently created around 400,000 employments in various manufacturing processes from designing and pattern-making, to cutting and sewing and accounts across the country.

This wide-spread presence of the industry also makes it one of the most significant contributors to employment generation and poverty reduction in the regions.