Exporters Urge Clear Framework for New Forced Labour Import Rules 📈

The Exporters Association of Sri Lanka (EASL) has welcomed the country's commitment to international labour standards but called for an urgent, clear implementation framework for newly gazetted regulations banning forced labour imports. • Key Concerns Raised: Without finalized operational guidelines, the EASL warns of risks including trade disruptions, shipment delays at the Colombo port, increased compliance costs, and heavy administrative burdens. • Proposed Solutions: • Establish structured consultations with exporters, importers, chambers of commerce, and logistics providers before enforcing procedures. • Adopt an international risk-based enforcement model targeting high-risk goods and jurisdictions, rather than enforcing blanket documentation on all transactions. • Request the Department of Customs to publish comprehensive guidelines covering verification procedures, acceptable documents, and a reasonable transition period. • Economic Context: EASL Chairman Nalaka Ratnayake emphasized that a transparent, risk-based approach is vital to eliminating forced labour from supply chains while preserving Sri Lanka’s global competitiveness and facilitating smooth trade operations across major export sectors like apparel & textiles and tea.