‘Apparel Star’ concludes in Kandy; Kalutara next

The eighth ‘Apparel Star’ talent competition for garment factory workers in the Kandy District concluded last Saturday with seven finalists selected to participate at the finals, which will be held in early 2012.

The talent hunt among apparel factory workers is part of an image building campaign conducted by the Joint Apparel Association Forum (JAAF) together with Ministry of Commerce and Industrial Affairs, aimed at recruitment and retention of factory workers.

“Garment workers make a major contribution to our economy and they deserve collective recognition and encouragement to stay on in their jobs,” said Tuli Cooray, Secretary General of JAAF.

He noted that the talent hunt and show was a platform to encourage and bring out talent as well as build confidence and reward all-rounders in the workplace.

The campaign was initiated in February 2011 at the Buttala ‘Deyata Kirula’ exhibition and has already covered garment factories in areas such as Puttalam, Trincomalee, Kantalai, Punani, Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa and Kurunegala.

Getambe grounds in Kandy came alive with all the trappings of a mega musical show, with 38 contestants from six factories taking the stage to sing and dance to a live audience.

Nearly 9,000 factory workers from six factories in Kandy District alone were reached by this activity.

In addition to the talent contest and culminating mega show, street and door-to-door promotions are being held at district level as a recruitment drive to increase capacity to meet the increased demand for apparel sourcing.