Unions in talks to ensure FTZ workers are paid their salaries

Friday, 27 March 2020 14:13 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Trade unions in the Free Trade Zone (FTZ) Katunayake are in talks with members of the Special Task Force to prevent the spread of COVID-19 within workplaces, appointed by the Skills Development Employment and Labour Relations Minister, to ensure that salaries of all workers are debited to their bank accounts as soon as possible, according to a Union leader today.

Free Trade Zones & General Services Employees Union General Secretary Anton Marcus said that while employees have already paid the workers, there are many who are yet to be paid. “All the workers are being sent back to their villages today and we have to make sure they are given their salaries,” Marcus told the Daily FT.

He said that there are around 20,000 workers and family members who are being dispatched by bus to their respective villages, under a government program. “They will be sent to the District/Divisional Secretariats in each area where the Medical Officers of Health (MOH) will have them checked and then they will be sent to their homes,” he added.

He also mentioned that measures have been taken to provide them with food packets for lunch today and all are likely to be sent to their homes by this evening. All factories in the FTZ have remained closed for the past week.