Katunayake Export Processing Zone gets day care centre and pre-school

A day care centre and pre-school has been opened for the children of workers employed at the factories in the Katunayake Export Processing Zone (KEPZ). This project was initiated by the Board of Investment of Sri Lanka along with the Manufacturer’s Association of KEPZ.

The day care centre which is located at Phase II of the Export Processing Zone was ceremonially opened yesterday.

This day care centre is very significant as it provides considerable assistance to skilled female workers who found it difficult in the past to work and bring up their children at the same time. Many well trained employees were forced to stop working due to this problem. BOI enterprises will also benefit as they faced a problem of finding suitable candidates to fill vacancies at the Zone. Hence this action taken by the BOI and Manufacturers Association addresses an important requirement of workers and also the enterprises at the KEPZ.

KEPZ Manufacturer’s Association President Fazal Abdeen said that this proposal had been discussed for some time as it would help build the image of Sri Lanka’s zones, provide assistance to workers and also ensure employee retention by the KEPZ enterprises. However BOI Chairman Upul Jayasuriya had initiated steps to immediately start the day care centre at the zone.

At the initial stage, the day care centre will accommodate a total of 50 children between the age group of two and five years. This intake will be increased as per the demand. The facility will be provided with frequent visits by doctors to take care of the health requirements of the children. The centre will also have educational and recreational facilities. BOI and the enterprises will monitor the centre to ensure high standards of service.

A large number of Human Resources Managers of the companies, KEPZ workers, officials from the KEPZ Manufacturing Association and the BOI attended this function. Fazal Abdeen, BOI Executive Director Upatissa Sirigampola, KEPZ Director M.K.D. Lawrance and Member of Pradesheeya Saba Rose Fernando addressed the gathering.

Arrangements are being made by BOI to establish additional day care centres in the other Export Processing Zones in the near future.