Free Trade Zones and General Services Employees Union
(FTZ & GSEU)
Sri Lanka
The Free Trade Zones and General Service Employees Union (FTZ & GSEU) represents worker in Sri Lanka’s garment and manufacturing sectors that were hard hit by the pandemic. All staff were required to stay home for a month, and many came back to reduced hours, wages or no job at all.
The FTZ & GSEU took on the huge job of representing workers illegally terminated from their job or owed their full wages for work done. The union took action in relation to 42 cases, winning back pay or reinstatement for thousands of workers. The union’s advocacy saved 500 jobs for workers at an Esquel owned factory as well as the reinstatement of their end of year bonus, meaning an extra $175 for 700 garment workers.
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“Beautiful Flowers” – Women’s group formed in rural Myanmar
In the far north of Myanmar below the Himalayas, ten women in Putao have established a sewing cooperative and set up a women’s association called “Vnap Nampan Wat” roughly meaning
Solidarity kitchens on the move in Sri Lanka
Garment workers who have lost jobs as a result of the economic and political crisis in Sri Lanka can now gather together over free meals and discuss their issues. The
Solidarity Kitchens Support Sri Lankan Garment Workers
Every Sunday garment workers in Sri Lanka who have lost jobs because of the political and economic crisis come together to cook, talk, share experiences, and engage in morale boosting
UnionAID Funding for Two New Union Projects
Free Trade Zones and General Services Employees Union (FTZGSE) has been funded to build union membership campaigns around two objectives: awareness and action to end workplace violence and harassment using
UnionAID supports democratic, worker-led organisations that help empower working people to improve their work and livelihoods through collective action.
Find out more about what we do and how to get involved here or become a Kiwi Solidarity Member now.