Unions banned
Socialist Organiser1984 1984-01-19Read it in the scan (PDF), scan page 5 →
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WHILST there is no legal provision which prohibits the formation of trade unions and similar organisations in Free Trade Zone factories, the Greater Colombo Economic Commission Authority does not conceal the fact that they would not permit the functioning of such organisations within the FTZ.
Trade unions can be prevented:
a) by refusing entry into the Free Trade Zone to any official or activist of a union, and ed in the Katunayake Free Trade Zone are from villages far away from the FTE. The suffering they undergo without proper residential facilities is immense.
In many of the boardings each room has two beds and one cot, where two female workers have b) by withdrawing the entry permits of any worker or workers who have joined the trade unions or similar organisations.
All of the ivu women interviewed were categorical in saying that the 'climate' in the FTZ in their opinion just does not even permit the mentioning of the two words, 'trade union' In four of the 18 factories studied, there have however been spontaneous, unorganised work stoppages.
The frequency of the female workers seeking medical attention for ailments such as chest pains, pain in the legs, tatigue, etc., is also very high, and is an expression of protest, of an inability to cope with the oppressive working conditions. to share each bed, and one is made to occupy the cot. These five persons perhaps are employees of five different factories. Their working hours may be in five different times.
So can you imagine whether there is any peace in this boarding house? One returns from work to enjoy rest, but often the boardings are like the devil's workshop...