13 apparel companies pledge to advance disability inclusion in workplaces

Thirteen apparel companies have signed a voluntary pledge in Colombo committing to advance disability inclusion in the workplace, marking a milestone for Inclusive Threads of Better Work Sri Lanka, a joint initiative of the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the International Finance Corporation (IFC), with support from the Australian Government’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

The ceremony brought together representatives from the Ministry of Rural Development, Social Security and Community Empowerment, the Employers’ Federation of Ceylon (EFC), the Joint Apparel Association Forum (JAAF), apparel companies, government officials and development partners.

Speaking at the event, ILO Country Director for Sri Lanka and the Maldives Joni Simpson said the pledge reflected a shared commitment to progress rather than a claim that every challenge had already been solved.

“By signing this pledge, employers are making a public commitment to strengthen disability-inclusive employment within their companies. This is a commitment to keep moving forward, to review recruitment practices, remove barriers, engage with workers and create more opportunities for persons with disabilities,” Simpson said.

Darshani Karunarathne, Director of the Department of Social Services under the Ministry of Rural Development, Social Security and Community Empowerment, highlighted the results achieved through Inclusive Threads.

“Our objective is to provide equal opportunities for persons with disabilities through employment, with a special focus on the apparel sector,” Karunarathne said. “Through community outreach, vocational training and direct partnerships with employers, we have reached over 17,000 households, trained candidates at our vocational institutes and supported 12 formal job placements through district-level job fairs. This is a model that works, and one we remain committed to scaling further.”

Secretary General of JAAF Yohan Lawrence said the inclusion of persons with disabilities in the apparel sector was not a new undertaking, but one built on decades of experience across the industry.

“Employing persons with disabilities is not an act of philanthropy. It is a sound investment in individuals who are committed to learning the skills of the trade and who often excel in the workplace,” Lawrence said. “Too often, persons with disabilities face barriers not because of a lack of ability, but because of limited access and limited opportunity.”

The Inclusive Threads programme has, to date, modernised training at three vocational institutes under the Department of Social Services, delivered sign language training to over 140 industry personnel and facilitated factory-based internships for trainees across multiple apparel companies.

The 13 companies that signed the voluntary pledge were Brandix Apparel, Filotex Lanka, Hirdaramani International Exports, Inqube Global, Maliban Wovens, Martex MFG, Miami Clothing, Original Apparel, Q Collection, Sumithra Garments, Sun Queen Apparel, Vogue Tex and Winterquilts.