Collective voice without collective bargaining: women workers negotiating workplace rights in Sri Lanka’s apparel industry

Collective bargaining is a powerful tool at the hands of workers to negotiate just and safe working conditions.

However, the declining trade union presence and the absence of autonomous forms of voice place workers and their rights at risk. A majority of women workers in labour intensive apparel industry is considered a source of industrial peace.

Focusing on Sri Lanka's apparel industry, in post-covid times, this presentation explores how women workers action their collective voice and negotiate their workplace and related rights.

This seminar is Achalie's final presentation of her doctoral candidature.

About the Speaker

Achalie Kumarage is a lawyer and a PhD Candidate at the School of Regulation and Global Governance (RegNet) at ANU.

Achalie holds a LL.B. and LL.M. from the Faculty of Law, University of Colombo, Sri Lanka. She completed her second LL.M. at the American University in Washington DC, as a Fulbright scholar. She was a lecturer at the Faculty of Law, University of Colombo before commencing the PhD.

Achalie's research has been awarded prizes from the American Society of Comparative Law (2019) and the Asian Journal of Law and Society and the Asian Law and Society Association (2022).

COVID protocols

The ANU strongly encourages you to keep a mask with you at all times (for use when COVID-19 safe behaviours are not practicable) and to be respectful of colleagues, students and visitors who may wish to continue to wear one. Please continue to practice good hygiene. If you are unwell, please stay home. The ANU's COVID Safety advice can be accessed here.

This seminar presentation will be in-person only.

Image credit: Image of women garment workers in Sri Lanka; supplied by the presenter.