By Chaminda Silva
The workers at Free Trade Zones (FTZ) was scheduled to resort to trade union action, demanding an allowance to match the rising cost of living, Convener of the National Centre for Free Trade Zone Workers, Gamini Ratnayake, said yesterday.There were148,000 workers in FTZs and their basic salary starts at Rs. 16,500, he said.
“Revenue from tourism, and foreign workers has dropped. However, the money made by the garment sector has increased. In the last quarter alone, the garment industry has earned USD 560 million,” he said.
Ratnayake said Sri Lanka had recorded the fifth highest food inflation in the world and garment workers are among the worst hit from the crisis.
“Currently we are educating the workers and soon we will start our union action,” he said.