Visit to KASH GARMENT.

Thilini Dilhara Premasiri.
FMS/R/2917
Group B
15/08/2012

Post 1

    On the 15^th of August we were visited to the Kash Garment which is situated in Pepiliyana.It is owned by a Germen citizen. About 300 workers in the garment and most of them are far away from Pepiliyana. Export quality ready-made items are manufactured in the garment. Employees are working from 8a.m-6a.m and they are entitled to holidays on weekends and public holidays.

    With regard to the health of employees before giving the job the management requires a pre-health assessment which state their previous illness and level of health. There was a nurse and a sick room to provide adequate health support. Inside of the factory was well lit.  The factory was non smoking zone.

      Personal protective equipments like masks (for known Asthmatics) & gloves are provided. Risky parts of the machines are covered and metal gloves are provided to the machine operators.

     For the mental wellbeing the management has arranged festivals, annual trips and to relieve their stress play popular songs inside the factory and while working workers can listen to them.

    In addition to the normal holidays employees are entitled to 14 days leaves per year. At the time of birth, a lady employee is entitled to a three month paid leave. Office transport facilities are provided to employees who are engaged in night shifts. And also hostel Facilities are available for 40 employees.

  There is a dining hall for 1/3 of total staff, 30 minutes interval for lunch and 15 min each for tea in morning and afternoon. There are enough toilets are available (1 for 20 people) with enough taps drinking water.      Lunch is provided at Rs17 to employees. So far no any food poisoning or health problems have reported. There was a fire rescue plan with an alarm system, a safety map and emergency exit.

     As the negative points employees don’t get regular health checkups and ventilation is not satisfactory. Masks are given only to known asthmatics. But it is much better to if everyone can wear masks and it will be reduce the risk of getting respiratory diseases.

   Every worker doesn’t actually wear the protective equipments given to them. There are some water collections which provide the breeding places for mosquitoes. At the time of the visit the first aid box was empty.

    There was a huge noise from machines.