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Nalini Peries is my name. I’m 21 years old and I live in Negombo, Sri Lanka. I studied to reach Advanced Level. I have two sisters. One is older than me, the other one is younger. My mother is a housewife and my father is a tinker worker. He is an informal worker.

When I was 16 years old, I worked in a neighborhood house, as a sub-contract worker. There is a woman in my village who brings clothing items from the garment factory in the free trade zone to do manual work. We had to do decoration by hand on those garments. I usually saw 50 pieces a day. She paid Rs.2.00 for one piece (less than US$0.02). I could earn up to Rs.100.00 (US$0.91) a day. But I couldn’t ensure my monthly income, because we didn’t have work everyday. We could work only when the garment factory called us. I did that job for 3 months and then I passed my Ordinary Level Exam (high school). So I quit that job and started my higher studies.

When I was 20 years old, I finished my studies. At the time one of my friends was working in a garment factory. She invited me to work with her in that factory. Its name is Hands International. It is an Australian factory. They have two divisions in the factory. One is the Glove Division and the other one is the Bag Division. I joined the bag division.

I will never forget those days. I learned a lot about young women workers’ conditions. We are just like machines. Wherever you looked, everyone was working, working, and working, without taking a rest. That time I had to carry boxes from storerooms.

My God! That work was very difficult for me. I had to check the things, when I got them from the storeroom. I had to check the bag slider packets also. The weight was more than 30 kg in one packet. My own body weight is 32 kg, so how could I do that? When I had my menstruation I couldn’t work hard. Those days I could not carry those heavy boxes. I discussed about that problem with my section supervisor, but he didn't take any action for that. He didn't care about my problem. Because I was a girl, they didn't care. They only wanted to reach their targets. Every month as a woman I had to face that problem. If I were a boy, I wouldn't have that problem. After some time I got sick, because of carrying heavy boxes. I got backbone pain and the doctor advised me not to carry heavy things. For me there was no other choice. I resigned from the job.

I joined the YCW Movement base group when these things were happening. Through my sister I had come to know the YCW earlier. Now I can understand how far this movement influences my life. I saw how much we have to admire young women workers and how the Movement's method will help to achieve our dream. Now I’m a national member in this movement. I’m happy to work with the young people and I’ll do my best.