Social Success of the Women Workers in the Garment Industry in Sri Lanka: A Case of Women Workers in Katunayake Free Trade Zone

Abstract

There are a number of Free Trade Zones (FTZ) in Sri Lanka, which house a variety of industrial businesses, including garment manufacturers. Most of the workers on the factory floor are women who work as machinists. Scholars highlight labor exploitation, gender subordination, and social perceptions in the apparel sector. But there is no research to explore the social success of women employees in the apparel sector. This research adds to the literature by providing empirical information from the Sri Lankan clothing industry about the success of women in the Sri Lankan apparel industry. A qualitative approach utilizing information gathered from interviews with female shop floor employees in the garment industry who work in export processing zones (EPZs). Thematic analysis was used as the analysis tool to process the research. The analysis identifies how those women workers started their careers as women machinists at a young age, and with time, they successfully adapted to the job role and the evolution of their lives through social aspects. Contrary to the social acceptance within the Sri Lankan context that women prefer government jobs, women have mentioned they prefer and that it is better to be a woman machinist. Finally, this paper concludes that women machinists have succeeded in their lives in social aspects by achieving work-life balance, well-structured families with educated children, and recognition and respect from the villagers and the whole society.