Bata Shop Workers Demand Permanent Jobs

From World Socialist Web Site, 13 January 2001

Salesmen employed by Bata Shoe retail outlets in Sri Lanka boycotted overtime, demanding the company employ them on a permanent basis and increase their wages. At present only shop managers are permanent, all other staff are on short-term contracts.

Casual workers receive a low wage, together with a small commission based on the number and value of the shoes sold, and are denied rights and perks available to permanent staff. Casual workers recently formed a branch of the Inter Company Workers Union across Bata Shoe outlets.

Presently Bata runs about 135 stores throughout Sri Lanka's free trade zones to exploit cheap labour, tax breaks and other concessions.