FTZMA looks at broad basing with Zonal Associations

Shirajiv Sirimane

Free Trade Zone Manufactures Association (FTZMA) in Katunayake is looking at broad basing their association and incorporates other Zonal associations to join them.

Dhammika Fernando

"We want to have bigger voice," said the newly elected President of the association and General Manager of Tropical Findings (Pvt) Limited Dhammika Fernando.

He said that FTZMA formed over 30 years ago, today is a strong body represented by 80 factories in the Zone. "Our next target is to get other Free Trade Zone bodies to join in, so that we could have a bigger voice."

He said that currently only the Katunayake, Biyagama and Koggala Zones have similar bodies. "We would help the other zones also to set up similar bodies." Fernando said that some people still think that a garment worker is under paid and their services are being exploited. "This is a 'myth' as a workers minimum salary is in the excess of Rs. 9, 000 and their take home package is much higher."

A free trade zone employee gets at least 20% more than a Super Market employee and the term 'Sweat shop', is not applicable to their workers.

Those who work in the free trade zone factories enjoy free meals, transport, production incentive bonuses, (in addition to the salary) annual trips for the employees, death donation facilities to employees and family members.

"The medical facilities and other incentives offered to our workers are very attractive." Dhammika said that with permanent peace and Sri Lanka heading towards a US$ 4,000 economy, more opportunities are opening up for youth.

In addition the worker population is reducing due to the government's decision to encourage the setting up of factories outside the Western Province." The workers do not have to travel to Colombo but could stay at their homes and gain employment in these factories. We have been addressing this issue and are offering even better facilities, salaries and welfare."

Upgrading the skills of the present employees too are being done so that they could be more productive thus helping the establishment to have profits and in turn increase wages of the staff.

Workers at Tropical Findings (Pvt) Limited Pictures by Saliya Rupasinghe

He also said that no apparel factory in the Zone closed down due to lack of quota or export orders. "A few factories closed down due to mismanagement and union issues."

"We have through a very lead period during the conflict time and today we are enjoying 'paradise'"

Commenting on the infrastructure at the Zone he said they were of very high standard. "All the buildings are solid and a collapse of a building similar to Bangladesh would never happen in the zone."

Dhammika said that the close proximity of the Colombo airport and also the Colombo harbor is a major boost to export their products.

Authorities must try to revive the rail link to the airport which would not only benefit the KIPZ staff but also airport passengers.

"This railway line went dead after the LTTE attacked the Colombo airport."