With International Women’s Day falling on March 8, less than two weeks away, labour rights activists are warning that women in Sri Lanka continue to face gender-based violence; not only at home and in public spaces, but also in the workplace. Activists highlighted particularly in the garment sector, where systemic harassment, excessive production targets and unsafe working conditions remain largely hidden despite the industry’s critical role in generating export revenue.

Commercial and Industrial Workers’ Union (CIWU) President Swasthika Arulingam said the annual conversations about women’s rights often fail to reflect the lived realities of garment workers.

“In another two weeks’ time, we will be celebrating Women’s Day. On Women’s Day, there are many events which will happen, where people will talk about violence against women, safety of women, women’s rights and agencies. But on the very same day and the days after that, it will be business as usual, where women will be subjected to different forms of violence and harassment, whether it be at home, at the workplace or in public places,” she Arulingam.

While speaking at a media briefing held on February 23, Arulingam underscored the rights of women and the working conditions of garment workers. However, she stressed that the rhetoric surrounding the day doesn’t lead to meaningful change. Arulingam pointed to what she described as a culture of silence surrounding abuse in key export-driven industries. “The violence which is faced by garment workers, which is something hidden and covered and people do not like to speak about it, because it concerns the export of our country’s export sector and because it concerns dollars,” she said.

Therefore, Arulingam said no one wants to speak about the violence which are faced by workers, particularly in the garment sector, the plantation sector etc.

“Harassment is built into the production process. Harassment is part and parcel of the production process,” she said.

Detailing the working conditions, Arulingam said workers regularly speak of overwhelming production demands. “On a regular day, if you speak to a garment worker, she will tell you that targets are too high, that they don’t have time to drink water or use the washroom and on some days they don’t even have time to breathe properly,” she said.

Arulingam highlighted that this is the regular working condition under which garment workers work. While these conditions are routine, she warned that there are moments when the consequences become tragically visible.

She also stressed that workers are the ones generating revenue for the country, but the people behind bringing dollars to this country are individual workers who are being treated horrendously.

“Tomorrow if all the garment sector workers refuse to work and say we are striking against the harassment we are going through, our country will not be able to bring a single dollar into the country. We know the implications of that,” she noted. On international accountability, she said that agreements have existed, but are insufficient. “There have been moments and instances like for example the Dindigul agreement which came about in India. But the story behind the Dindigul agreement is about the fact that the garment worker was subjected to rape and murder. We don’t have to wait till garment workers are raped and killed before we come to responsible agreement,” she said.

Finally, Arulingam said the government also bears responsibility in regard to the mentioned issues. “I think the government has a responsibility, particularly a regime like the National People’s Power (NPP) government, which came on the backs of the support of workers. They have a particular responsibility to ensure that workers know that they have a right to form and join a trade union,” she concluded.

Meanwhile, CIWU has lodged complaints related to the death of the estate worker with several local authorities, including the police, the Department of Labour and its Industrial Safety Division, and the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka

Pushpalatha’s story rings alarm bells!

The deceased garment factory worker Pushpalatha Sivakumar
On October 10, 2025, Pushpalatha Sivakumar, a woman garment worker employed at an apparel factory in Awissawella, died under circumstances that have since raised concerns. On the day of her death, she reportedly felt unwell while at work and sought permission to leave in order to obtain medical treatment. According to available information, despite becoming increasingly ill, she was required to remain at the factory until she completed her target. According to trade unions, her health concerns were dismissed and she subsequently collapsed at her workstation. She was later transferred to hospital, where she died.

While sharing the details of this incident, Arulingam at the same media briefing held on 23 February, said that what is currently known is limited.

“There has been an open verdict and Pushpalatha’s husband Govindasamy Sivakumar still hasn’t received the death certificate. And there is a case ongoing in the court with regard to what had transpired. So far we don’t know the cause of death,” she added. Arulingam maintained that the union doesn’t make public statements without evidence. “Before Pushpalatha died, she had spoken to three witnesses. She (Pushpalatha) had said from morning She’d (Pushpalatha) been asking her supervisor for leave to go home because she wasn’t feeling well, but she wasn’t allowed to leave,” Arulingam said.

Arulingam noted that workers have submitted affidavits to her union with regard to what had happened to Pushpalatha.

According to her, workers who have spoken out have been intimidated by factory authorities. Union organisers who visited the factories to engage in union activities have also been subjected to severe threats and harassment.

She explained that two organisers from the CIWU were distributing leaflets in the Avissawella zone when men wearing garment company T-shirts reportedly approached them and threatened them with death, rape and violence. The matter was reported to the company authorities and complaints were lodged with the Avissawella Police. However, to date, there has been no indication that any investigation taking place.

She also noted, “The system as a whole tries to protect these companies from accountability,”

General Secretary of Stand-up Movement, Ashila Dandeniya also commented on the serious and continuous exploitation and slavery faced by the workers in this particular factory. “The workers do not spend much time during lunch breaks. If they do, workers will not be able to meet their targets. Failing which the workers will not be able to live from the salaries that they receive” said Dandeniya.

Courtesy:Daily Mirror