BOI facilitates curfew passes for employees

Tuesday, 13 October 2020 01:30 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Initially enterprises should arrange transport for these employees
Workers in company-managed boarding houses will be subjected to PCR tests, then allowed to report to work
PCR tests continue in Katunayake and Biyagama EPZs this week

By Charumini de Silva

The employees of export processing zones (EPZs) from curfew areas started to report to work yesterday after curfew passes were arranged for them by authorities.

Although the five Police Divisions of Minuwangoda, Divulapitiya, Mirigama, Veyangoda and Gampaha will continue to be kept under lockdown, the Board of Investment (BOI) will allow curfew passes to employees from all other police divisions so that they can start work, BOI sources told the Daily FT on the condition of anonymity.

However, during this initial stage, BOI enterprises have been directed to provide transport to employees as needed.

“Those in the curfew areas, but staying in company-managed boarding places, will be provided with random PCR tests, and upon release of the test results they will be allowed to report to work,” Joint Apparel Association Forum (JAAF) sources told the Daily FT.

According to sources, thereafter, as the last stage, employees residing in other boarding houses will be subject to PCR tests, and based on those test results the BOI will start to issue curfew passes.

BOI enterprises said although it is not what is required, given the situation, they pointed out that it is a good start to get economic activities up and running.

In terms of the PCR tests, sources said that tests will continue in Katunayake and Biyagama EPZs this week. Katunayake EPZ has around 32,000 employees, while Biyagama EPZ has 30,000 workers.

Four Government-accredited private hospitals have now agreed to provide PCR tests at concessional rates to BOI enterprises. The testing charges as per the four private hospitals are: Asiri Hospital rate is Rs. 6,500 (per person), and for outside Colombo Rs. 60 per kilometre (km); Durdans Hospital rate is Rs. 6,500 and transport cost; Lanka Hospitals rate is Rs. 8,800, and for outside Colombo Rs. 65 per km; and Nawaloka Hospital rate is Rs. 7,000, and transport cost depends on the location.

Sri Lanka has 14 EPZs islandwide, with 285 enterprises employing 143,500 workers.