Income of apparel sector investors has dropped by 25 percent due to a decline in orders and an increase in electricity and other expenses, said secretary of the association of FTZ investors Dhammika Fernando.
As a result, certain local investors are even resorting to possible investments overseas, he said.
Ten others have cut jobs, removing workers after paying them compensation.
Many are using their deposits to pay full or half salaries to the workers who stay at home.
There are factories that open for work four days a week and also every other week.
According to him, half of the small and medium apparel producers have been closed, while one-fifth of the large-scale ones will remain closed for three months with the December vacation.
