ILO launches ‘Better Work Sri Lanka’ program to improve garment industry

Sept 08, Colombo: The International Labor Organization (ILO) officially launched the Better Work Sri Lanka program in Sri Lanka Monday day to improve the working environment, quality and competitiveness of the garment industry.

This program includes developing the Sri Lankan garment industry proportionately with the global industry environment, establishing international standards and criteria including work environment, employee safety, empowering women’s representation, stabilizing the supply chains of small and medium scale garment entrepreneurs and reducing costs, according to the Minister of Labor and Foreign Employment Manusha Nanayakkara.

According to Minister Nanayakkara, by 2025, Sri Lanka is aiming to increase apparel export revenue to eight billion dollars. Similarly, 350,000 direct jobs and 750,000 indirect jobs have been created in this sector.

Through this program, all the people who are in direct and indirect jobs in the field and all the entrepreneurs will be empowered, the Minister said.

“It is a pleasure to be able to contribute directly in this regard as the Minister of Labor and Foreign Employment Through this, our clothing professionals as well as entrepreneurs are going to get many benefits in the future. Efforts are being made to take it beyond individual benefits and achieve our goal of becoming the regional leader in apparel” the Minister of Labor and Foreign Employment said.