“Amava Apparel factory violates the contract signed by the government and suppresses the trade union”, 17 June 2023

…The Amava Apparel garment factory in Ward No. (13) said that there was a shortage of orders, and the trade union leaders, Line representatives and labor union members are reportedly being removed from the machine lines.

"… The day workers are fired one day before they complete six months. Then they are asked to come back. There are no rights for the day workers, so they cannot refuse if they call for overtime…The day workers are also told not to join the union. They threaten them. This is an intentional destruction of the union," said a worker.

"Labor union leaders, union members, union line representatives…are discriminated against by the factory…they are placed…away from the workers. They do not mingle with the workers. Workers are also threatened not to speak to the union…

Some of the union leaders were…asked if they were doing the union work for money…

On July 29, 2019, labor rights were violated. Because of being oppressed and sexually harassed in the workplace, about a thousand workers gathered in front of the factory to demand 19 points. It is reported that the employer, workers and the government signed a contract agreeing to these demands, but because the employer violated the terms of the contract, on May 4, 2023, they again requested not to violate the contract.

"…If we miss three days in the contract, [they] will deduct 10,000 from the wages. We signed an agreement in 2019. [They] violated this agreement in May 2023. Since the regulatory agencies did not take any action, now [they] will pay 40,000 wages once we achieve 55% of the garment standard…and will cut 25% of the wages if we miss a day. The workers will not accept it…Because there was no action, the tripartite contract between the employer, the workers, and the government was violated again and again," a worker said again.

In February 2023, the factory also told Social Security…not to give workers medical certificates if they took leave.

Amava Apparel factory is owned by Sri Lankan citizens, operates with more than 1,000 workers, and manufactures brands such as Blaklader KARRIMOR.

[Translation via Google Translate]