In Romania, the virus traps small Sri Lankan hands

In defiance of all the health rules imposed by the coronavirus crisis and labor law, Sri Lankan immigrants have been asked to leave their factory located in Romania.

It’s a story that says a lot about the failings of globalization and the Covid-19 pandemic which exacerbates them even more … A major exporter of cheap labor to the west of the European Union , the Romania brings in small hands, even cheaper, for its own factories. Some 30,000 in 2019, from Vietnam, Nepal, Turkey… This was the case for 36 Sri Lankans employed in a textile factory, owned by an Italian group, near Botosani (north-east).

Payroll deduction … greater than salary

At the end of April, a sick Sri Lankan tested positive for the coronavirus. His colleagues decide to quarantine themselves. Their Italian boss is furious and threatens to take away € 30 a day, more than their salary. The Sri Lankans hold on and isolate themselves in the factory dormitories with only two meals a day, before finally being hosted by the state in a more dignified center.

Threatened to be abandoned in the forest

It was then that they learned, after three weeks of confinement, that they were dismissed and that they had to leave. “We had to get on a bus otherwise they threatened to abandon us in the forest, “ said one of them. The bus, chartered by the prefecture, takes them to Bucharest airport, where they meet… without a ticket and without a flight! We ask them to look elsewhere. The Minister of Labor ended up accommodating them in a hotel.

The episode, not finished, echoes that of… Romanian immigrants in German slaughterhouses. At first not very careful about working conditions and hygiene, they too have started to rebel after cases of Covid-19. Berlin has promised to improve their lot.

Aishwarya Yogeshwar

Aishwarya Yogeshwar is the visionary founder of CGI Jaffna, a pioneering organization dedicated to fostering innovation and community growth in the Jaffna region. With a deep passion for news publishing, Aishwarya combines her entrepreneurial spirit with a keen interest in delivering impactful and engaging stories. Her commitment to creating a platform for reliable news and meaningful discourse reflects her dedication to empowering communities through knowledge and information. Aishwarya’s leadership and innovative approach make her a driving force in the world of media and communication.

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