Sri Lanka - Weak labour inspection in the export processing zones (2010)

Labour inspection is clearly inadequate in the Export Processing Zones (EPZs). Government labour inspectors are not allowed to carry out unannounced visits to factories in the EPZs. When complaints are received by the competent government body, employers rarely turn up to the hearings, and, when they do so, they frequently flout the rulings with total impunity. The government has proved incapable of forcing employers to respect the decisions of the authorities. This was the case for the decisions by the General Labour Commissioner regarding New Design Manufacturing Ltd. and Ceyenergy Electronics (PVT) Ltd. In other cases, the authorities completely ignore requests for mediation by the trade unions, such as at Smart Shirts Lanka Ltd.