August 1998 was the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the Katunayake Free Trade Zone in Sri Lanka. The Sri Lankan Government has sponsored many activities to celebrate this anniversary. However, for the workers in the Sri Lankan Free Trade Zones, there is nothing to celebrate. It has been 20 years of hell.

Sri Lanka was the first Asian country to introduce free market economic policies. These included the establishment of a Free Trade Zone. Now there are almost 100,000 workers (70% women) employed in three FTZs in Sri Lanka. In 1992 the Government declared the whole country an FTZ.

The past 20 years has brought employment but not prosperity to workers in the Sri Lankan FTZs. Poor wages, bad working conditions, long hours, high work intensity, cramped housing and sexual harassment have been the daily reality for these workers.

Trade Unions have also been banned in the FTZs since they were set up. However through the patient work of the Industrial, Transport and General Workers Union workers in the zone have started to be organised through Women’s Centres and a Garment Welfare Centre.

In 1994, the Peoples Alliance was elected to Government on the platform of allowing trade unions to organise in the FTZs. But after pressure from foreign factory owners the Government partially backed down and only allowed the formation of Workers Councils on a factory by factory basis.

Seizing on this small opening a Joint Association of Workers Councils was formed in 1996. This Council has now been expanded to include 26 Worker Councils and also individual workers. It now covers 25,000 workers.

The Joint Association has combined with other trade unions and labour NGOs to hold an exhibition in opposition to the Government celebrations of the FTZ. Katunayake Free Trade Zone: "The Real Story, 20 years On" will be held at the time of the APWSL Council Meeting in Sri Lanka on 7 & 8 November 1998.

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