A Collective Feminist Victory: Women Garment Workers in Sri Lanka Win Their Struggle

We are pleased to share an important victory in the struggle for women workers’ rights in Sri Lanka’s garment sector.

Following the Declaration of Solidarity with the Women Workers of Lanka Garments, published on our website in November, we have now received powerful news from our sisters on the ground: the women workers have won their struggle.

On 11 October 2025, two women garment workers employed at Lanka Garments (JB Apparel) in the Koggala Export Processing Zone were subjected to intimidation, harassment, prolonged detention, and coercion by factory management. Their only “offence” was their intention to participate in a one-day awareness programme on gender equality, labour rights, and grievance mechanisms organised by the Women’s Centre of Sri Lanka.

The workers were falsely accused of attempting to form a trade union, verbally abused, threatened with police action, and forced to submit resignation letters. Several other women workers were also questioned and intimidated, creating an atmosphere of fear within the factory. These actions constituted a clear violation of the women workers’ fundamental right to freedom of association, as guaranteed by the Constitution of Sri Lanka, as well as international labour and human rights standards.

Thanks to women-led organising, legal intervention, and strong national and international solidarity, this injustice was challenged. Following a formal inquiry by the Labour Department under the supervision of the Assistant Commissioner of Labour (Galle Division), the authorities recognised that an injustice had occurred.

As a result, the company agreed to unconditionally reinstate both women workers, restore their continuity of service, positions, and employment conditions and pay full back wages for the period during which they were unlawfully denied work

The settlement was reached through conciliation under the Industrial Disputes Act No. 43 of 1950, affirming that retaliation, forced resignations, and violations of freedom of association are unlawful and unacceptable.

This victory is not only a labour rights achievement, but also a feminist victory. It challenges the patriarchal power structures that systematically target women workers—especially young, economically marginalised women—in the garment industry. It shows that women’s collective resistance, education, and cross-border solidarity can confront and overturn abuse. We warmly salute the Women’s Centre of Sri Lanka, the affected workers, national labour and women’s organisations, the FTZGSE Union, and all international allies who raised their voices, sent letters, issued solidarity statements, and applied pressure in defence of these women.

This collective victory once again proves that solidarity works.

World March of Women