Sri Lanka’s apparel industry is experiencing a rebound, with factories planning to expand their workforce by 10-15 per cent this year. The sector is also bracing for a potential surge in orders from Bangladesh, should conditions there deteriorate.
According to Yohan Lawrence, Spokesperson, Joint Apparel Association Forum (JAAF), garment exports from Sri Lanka grew by 4 per cent to $417.71 million in June 2024 compared to $401.63 million in June 2023. Garment exports in July increased by 3.29 per cent to $414.38 million from $401.18 million in the previous year. This boost in exports prompted larger factories to seek an additional 10-15 per cent workforce to manage the growing demand.
To meet this need, the industry plans to rehire and train staff who had voluntarily left, with an estimated three months required to bring them up to speed.
Hemantha Kumara, Secretary General, Sri Lanka Chamber of Garment Exporters, notes, the small and medium enterprise (SME) sector has witnessed a 120 per cent rise in orders, which is expected to last through early next year, driven by increased consumer demand in major markets like the US, UK, and Europe. This uptick is anticipated to bring a strong Christmas season for the sector. However, the SME sector faces a significant shortage of skilled and unskilled workers.
Currently, the SME sector employs around 30,000 people, though the workforce has declined by 30 per cent in recent years. Factories in this sector typically employ between 50 and 500 workers, depending on their size, and are actively recruiting to meet rising demand.
