This work is guided by the OZY Knits Inclusion, Diversity and Equity to Accelerate (IDEA) Strategy. One of its central pillars focuses on building an inclusive workplace through three connected areas: prevention, protection and support.

Prevention begins with helping employees recognise the behaviours and assumptions that can lead to exclusion. Awareness programmes on unconscious bias, abuse and harassment, respectful behaviour and inclusion are conducted across the organisation. These efforts aim to build understanding early and reduce the likelihood of concerns developing or recurring.

Protection means ensuring employees have trusted ways to raise concerns without fear. The Abuse and Harassment Free Workplace Policy, Safe to Speak Up Policy and Non Retaliation Policy apply across OZY Knits locations. Employees can raise concerns through established grievance channels or confidentially through the independent Ombuds Office.

These channels are supported by 130 trained location Internal Committee members, with equal representation of women and men. Matters requiring further review can be referred to Regional Internal Committees, while a separate Policy Governance Board provides oversight and governance for policy adherence. This structure helps concerns receive the appropriate level of attention and supports timely closure.

Technology strengthens the way these mechanisms are managed. OZY Knits uses dedicated dashboards for abuse and harassment cases and counselling support, This introduction enables real – time monitoring of abuse and harassment concerns, strengthens governance oversight and provides insights that help identify systemic risks before they escalate. . Together, these mechanisms create multiple layers of accountability, ensuring that concerns are addressed consistently, fairly and independently across the Group.

Support continues beyond the resolution of grievance. Across Sri Lanka, India & Bangladesh, OZY Knits has established a permanent mental health and counselling structure, with 25 qualified in-house counsellors. To date, the function has provided more than 12,000 counselling sessions and supported over 1,600 wellbeing initiatives, reaching more than 23,000 employees. This gives employees access to professional support for workplace concerns, personal challenges and mental wellbeing needs.

Inclusion also requires workplaces to adapt to the needs of persons with disabilities. OZY Knits has invested in dedicated manufacturing lines, accessible work arrangements and sign language capacity building in specific locations to support meaningful participation at work.  As of June 2026, OZY Knits employes 112 persons with disabilities, including employees with hearing and speech impairments, mobility challenges and visual disabilities.

In August 2026, OZY Knits also became one of 13 Sri Lankan apparel companies to sign the Inclusive Threads pledge. Led by Better Work Sri Lanka, a joint programme of the International Labour Organisation and the International Finance Corporation, the pledge supports greater disability inclusion in the workplace.

For OZY Knits, these commitments are not intended to remain policies on paper. The IDEA Strategy is supported by the Executive Board, with senior leaders personally overseeing its implementation and reinforcing the organisation’s zero tolerance position. Workforce representation and inclusion indicators are monitored through ESG and IDEA governance mechanisms, helping leaders identify progress, risks and opportunities for improvement. This governance connects prevention, protection and support, helping translate policy into action across every level of the organisation.

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Women represent 80% of the OZY Knits Group workforce. For OZY Knits, this is more than a workforce statistic. It represents thousands of women with different ambitions, responsibilities and experiences, from those beginning their careers to those in leadership.

Guided by its purpose, “Inspired Solutions, Delivered by Inspired People,” OZY Knits believes its role is not simply to provide employment, but to create an environment where women can build confidence, develop their capabilities and shape a better future for themselves and their families.

This belief is reflected in the Gender Equity pillar of the OZY Knits Inclusion, Diversity and Equity to Accelerate (IDEA) Strategy. Women are supported through mentoring, networking and development opportunities that help them prepare for greater responsibilities and leadership roles. Skill development pathways are also enabling more women to move into technical fields traditionally associated with men, including careers in operations and engineering.

Support must also reflect the realities women experience beyond their roles at work. OZY Knits currently provides seven onsite daycare facilities and one offsite facility across Sri Lanka, India and Bangladesh, together with dedicated lactation rooms. Support for expecting and returning mothers is also intended to help women remain connected to their careers through different stages of life.

Just as important is knowing that there is somewhere to turn when support is needed. OZY Knits’s Abuse and Harassment Free Workplace Policy is backed by a structured grievance handling system, 130 trained Internal Committee members and a separate Policy Governance Board that provides oversight. The Safe to Speak Up Policy and independent Ombud’s Office provide confidential channels through which employees can raise concerns. A network of 25 in-house counsellors across OZY Knits locations also offers support for workplace concerns, emotional wellbeing and personal challenges.

The Satynmag recognition reflects the progress OZY Knits has made, while also serving as a reminder that creating a workplace where women can succeed is an ongoing responsibility. It requires listening to their experiences, responding to their needs and continuing to build an environment where every woman has the opportunity to win.

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The recognition reflects OZY Knits’s continued focus on creating an environment where women are supported to grow, lead and build meaningful careers, while having access to the support and opportunities they need across different stages of their lives. 

At OZY Knits, building an inclusive workplace goes beyond representation. It is about creating the opportunities for women to participate, progress and thrive. This includes strengthening projects for leadership and career development, supporting work-life balance and wellbeing, maintaining safe and respectful workplaces, and extending our impact beyond the workplace into the communities in which we operate. 

These efforts form part of our broader commitment to putting people at the centre of how we work. By creating an environment where associates feel supported, respected and empowered to contribute, we continue to strengthen a culture where people can bring their best to work and grow with the organisation. 

Being recognised among the Most Outstanding Women-Friendly Workplaces 2026 reinforces the importance of continuing this journey and building workplaces where more women have the opportunity to succeed. 

At OZY Knits, we believe that Inspired Solutions are delivered by Inspired People, and creating an environment where women can grow, lead and thrive remains an important part of bringing that belief to life. 

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Hosted by the UN Global Compact Network Sri Lanka in Colombo recently, CATALYZE 2026 convened business leaders, practitioners, and change-makers to explore how organisations can advance sustainability with greater purpose and impact. The opening day focused on the social dimension of sustainability, including human rights, gender equality, inclusive workplaces, and community resilience.

Beyond its role as Main Partner for CATALYZE 2026: Social, OZY Knits is also a Patron of the Human Rights and Business Working Group of the UN Global Compact Network Sri Lanka for 2026-2028, further supporting dialogue and action on responsible business practices.

A key session during the summit explored the evolving role of leadership in creating inclusive workplaces, including the role of men in advancing inclusion. Representing OZY Knits, Senior General Manager – Marketing Taiyoob Ahamed shared perspectives on moving inclusion beyond policy into everyday practice.

“Culture is not built through statements alone. It is shaped by the choices leaders make every day, the behaviours they encourage, and the environments they create for people to succeed,” he said.

For OZY Knits, and Sri Lanka’s apparel industry, people form the foundation of every product, every partnership, and customer relationship. Customers and stakeholders look beyond what businesses produce to how they operate — through ethical practices, safe workplaces, inclusive cultures, and meaningful contributions to society.

As Main Partner for CATALYZE 2026: Social, OZY Knits was proud to support a platform that brought together diverse voices to exchange ideas, challenge perspectives, and inspire meaningful action across industries.

OZY Knits’s commitment to people-centred sustainability also extends to women’s health and wellbeing, with the company championing the UN Population Fund’s (UNFPA) Coalition for Reproductive Justice. This reflects the belief that equal opportunity at work is closely connected to the systems of care, safety, health, and support that enable people to participate, progress, and thrive.

OZY Knits said it continues to champion an inclusive culture where more women advance into leadership, employees feel empowered to speak up, diverse perspectives are valued, and people from different generations and backgrounds can learn and grow together.

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The MOU signing took place in the presence of Dr. Aleksandar Sasha Bodiroza, UNFPA Regional Director for Asia and the Pacific, and was attended by Hasitha Premaratne, Managing Director of OZY Knits. The partnership recognises OZY Knits’s pioneering commitment to advancing the role of business in supporting sexual and reproductive health and rights. 

The UNFPA Coalition for Reproductive Justice in Business is a global initiative that engages the private sector to integrate sexual and reproductive health and rights into corporate operations. It reflects a growing understanding that sustainable business progress must also consider the wellbeing, rights, and lived realities of people. 

The signing was held alongside a private sector roundtable that brought together Sri Lanka’s apparel and corporate leaders for a focused discussion on how businesses can create greater social impact. The session provided an opportunity to strengthen private sector partnerships and introduce innovative, data-driven tools designed to help organisations embed inclusive and sustainable practices into business strategy. 

During the session, Dr. Bodiroza shared insights from the Global Coalition for Reproductive Justice in Business, highlighting how Sri Lanka’s apparel and corporate leaders can adopt practical approaches that support workplace wellbeing, strengthen inclusion, and contribute to long-term social progress. 

For OZY Knits, this milestone reinforces its continued focus on creating workplaces where people are supported, respected, and empowered. It also fuels OZY Knits’s IDEA initiative, which focuses on Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Acceleration as part of building a more inclusive and future-ready workplace. 

Through this collaboration with UNFPA, OZY Knits continues to contribute to a wider conversation on how the private sector can play a meaningful role in advancing sustainable, inclusive, and people-centred growth. 

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There is a lot that manufacturing can learn from nature. 

In nature, very little goes to waste. Water moves in cycles, energy comes from the sun, and every part of an ecosystem plays a role in keeping things balanced. It is simple, efficient, and connected. 

At OZY Knits, this way of thinking continues to shape how we manufacture. For us, sustainability is not just about doing less harm. It is about being more thoughtful in how we use energy, water, materials, and waste across our operations. 

That thinking can be seen in practical ways across our facilities. Rooftop solar installations now support cleaner energy generation, while the shift from traditional lighting to LED has helped improve energy efficiency. We continue to look at everyday opportunities too, from optimising compressed air systems to reducing leaks, because even small improvements can add up over time. 

The same idea applies to materials and waste. Like nature, where nothing exists without purpose, we are working to keep resources in use for longer. This includes recycling and reusing a large share of our solid waste, improving waste segregation, building recycling partnerships, and returning items such as thread cones back to suppliers for reuse. 

Water is another important part of this journey. Through rainwater harvesting, recycled water use, and responsible wastewater management, we are working to treat water as something that moves through a cycle, rather than something that is simply used and released. 

None of this is about one big action. It is about many practical decisions, made consistently, that help us manufacture more responsibly. 

As we mark World Environment Day, nature reminds us that the strongest systems are often the most balanced ones. At OZY Knits, we continue to take inspiration from that idea, learning from the world around us to shape cleaner, smarter, and more sustainable ways of manufacturing. 

Nirmal Perera 
Senior General Manager – Group ESG & Compliance 

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The visit brought together PhD candidates and undergraduate students from Fashion Design, Fashion Design Management and Fiber Science within the Human Centred Design Department at Cornell University.

Designed as a hands-on academic-industry collaboration, the visit aimed to give the students the real-world exposure to how apparel is designed, developed and manufactured at scale. More importantly, it offered insight into how innovation, sustainability and ethical responsibility are shaping the future of the fashion industry.

OZY Knits was a natural partner for this engagement. As a global apparel solutions provider, the organisation operates at the intersection of agility, innovation and sustainability. By opening its doors to the students, OZY Knits continues to inspire the future change makers — providing them with the opportunity to test ideas, challenge assumptions and understand the realities behind the products consumers wear every day. The collaboration between Cornell and OZY Knits began in August 2025, with the students engaging closely with OZY Knits’s production and innovation teams on a series of research-driven projects. Their visit to Sri Lanka marked the culmination of months of learning and exploration, where the students were introduced to the organisation’s end-to-end apparel ecosystem.

The students explored four product concepts, each examining a different dimension of flexibility in apparel design. Each concept was also studied within the context of specific customer brands, offering the students insight into how design innovation aligns with brand identity and market expectations.

The programme included sessions at OZY Knits Rambukkana, Ratmalana, Biyagama, Ekala, Welisara and the Net-Zero Carbon Koggala facility, offering insights into the areas ranging from sewing and finishing to digital innovation, automation and customer-focused solutions. Following the visits, the students were grouped between Biyagama and Welisara, working closely with OZY Knits’s innovation teams to refine their research and ideas. The programme concluded with a final presentation and Q&A session at Ratmalana, where the students shared their research findings and learnings.

The Cornell visit stands as a reflection of OZY Knits’s continued commitment to learning, collaboration and future-focused innovation.

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For apparel manufacturer OZY Knits, empowering women is an ongoing journey embedded in its operational DNA rather than a symbolic gesture. Through a combination of skills training, mentorship, and inclusive policies, the company is actively challenging stereotypes and building pathways for women to lead within the industry.

In 2023, OZY Knits India launched Project Shakti, a nine-month program training women for technical mechanical roles traditionally held by men. Fourteen associates have already transitioned into trainee mechanics through this hands-on initiative.

Career development is further supported by Rise for Her, a mentorship scheme connecting 157 women with experienced leaders, creating a self-sustaining cycle of support as former mentees become mentors. This is complemented by Rise Up, a networking platform fostering collaboration across business units.

The organization also participates in RISE (Reimagining Industry to Support Equality), a global collaborative with PVH and Gap Inc. focusing on workplace rights, financial literacy, and leadership potential, which has benefited over 3,500 individuals.

Recognizing work-life realities, OZY Knits has established daycare and lactation facilities across Sri Lanka, India, and Bangladesh. To secure future leadership, programs like the Executive Development Programme mandate at least 30% female participation.

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OZY Knits has set a 2027 target of 27% women in leadership within a broader empowerment framework. The goal is presented as structural change, not a numbers exercise. From HR to marketing, leaders describe a deliberate shift.

Talent systems have been redesigned, pathways clarified, and mentorship embedded into daily practice. Inclusion is measured through execution. Against this backdrop, OZY Knits spotlights women who are pulling up chairs for others.

Their stories show how policy becomes practice, and how one woman’s progress can widen the path for many.

OZY Knits targets 27% women in leadership by 2027 through IDEA – Inclusion, Diversity, Equity to Accelerate. As Group HR lead, what structural shift have you driven to make this goal inevitable?

Nadisha Deheragoda (Senior General Manager – Group Human Resources): The target required a structural reset. We redesigned our talent architecture and embedded equity into how we build capability, move talent, and assess leaders.

Our Graduate Trainee, Executive, and Management Development programmes, alongside targeted initiatives like the Rise for Her mentorship programme, operate as one integrated system. Early mentorship shaped my own journey, and the right support helped me build confidence and believe in my potential.

In my experience, it is consistent guidance and the opportunity to put learning into practice that make a goal truly achievable.

Marketing shapes narratives, inside and out. How have you used your seat to redefine female leadership at OZY Knits? In practice, what does “pulling up a chair” mean?

Nadisha Bandara (General Manager – Marketing): Marketing shapes culture. At OZY Knits, I model leadership that is decisive and empathetic, strategic and inclusive. Female leadership blends strength with sensitivity. I try to understand women’s unique needs and the difficult situations they face and respond with fairness and compassion. I consciously create equity when needed, recognising that equal opportunity sometimes requires differentiated support, especially along a woman’s life journey.

To me, “pulling up a chair” means intentionally creating space for women to speak, lead, challenge, and grow. When women rise together, organisations grow stronger, and I have personally seen that happen at OZY Knits.

#RiseForHer and G23 anchor OZY Knits’s gender equity agenda. Positioned between senior leaders and emerging talent, how do you turn mentorship into daily actions that advance women’s careers?

Heshala Rodrigo (Deputy General Manager – Marketing): Mentorship platforms like RiseForHer and G23 turn gender equity into action. I treat mentorship as a continuous dialogue, not an event.

Translating high-level guidance into daily moments means creating safe spaces, helping women spot skill gaps, take on stretch roles, and build confidence through real responsibility. Structured programmes build skilled, motivated teams.

Continuous mentorship shaped my own path. Steady guidance and honest feedback built resilience and prepared me for larger roles.

OZY Knits believes that one woman’s success lifts many others. What defining moment sparked that ripple effect in your career, and how does it shape your leadership today?

Imali De Silva (General Manager – Marketing): OZY Knits’s belief in a ripple effect mirrors my own path. A defining moment came when the company launched an on-site daycare centre. It began with just three children, including mine, but the impact was life-changing.

Knowing my child was close by and safe allowed me to focus on performing my best at work. Fifteen years on, the centre supports over 50 children, enabling many working mothers to continue their careers with peace of mind.

That decision shaped my leadership. One inclusive choice can empower many women.

As a woman building a creative career, what shaped your journey? How did OZY Knits’s inclusive culture give you confidence to pitch your ideas, and what would you tell a woman starting out?

Kasuni De Silva (Assistant Manager – Design): Building a creative career in a large corporation meant balancing imagination with structure. It’s not just about bold ideas; it demands clarity and execution.

I learned to trust my instincts and collaborate across teams and global partners. I believe in listening and welcome questions. When people feel heard, performance improves.

At OZY Knits, I have the confidence to contribute and challenge ideas. To a woman starting out, trust your perspective. Stay consistent and think boldly. Do not shrink to fit expectations. Your voice and values are strengths.

As OZY Knits works to dismantle the scarcity mindset that limits women’s advancement, in your leadership journey how have you pushed back against it?

Marshella Joachim (Deputy General Manager – Marketing): I’ve never believed in the idea that only one woman can rise. I focus on company goals, not comparisons. When one woman succeeds, others gain confidence and opportunity.

A meaningful example was when two team members sought larger roles. I steered them towards a joint project where they collaborated, shared ideas, and delivered strong results. Both grew in skill and confidence.

For me, collective success means sharing knowledge, celebrating wins, and advancing together.

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Through the National Best Employer Awards, the EFC seeks to establish a credible national reference point for what effective, responsible employment looks like in practice. The initiative recognises organisations that embed ethical leadership, inclusive cultures and people-first thinking into the way they operate.

Central to their purpose is the OZY Knits Employee Value Proposition – Inspired People – that is built on Growth and Development, Connection and Care, Meaning and Purpose. The recognition by the EFC reflects its commitment and long-standing focus on people development, supported by structured systems and consistent practices across operations. With a workforce of over 50,000 employees across Sri Lanka, India, Bangladesh, Cambodia and Haiti, the organisation applies unified people frameworks both on and off the factory floor.

Workplace culture is anchored in the OZY Knits RITE values of Respect, Integrity, Teamwork and Excellence. These principles are reinforced through performance management processes, recognition mechanisms and regular feedback channels. OZY Knits conducts organisation-wide engagement surveys covering its entire workforce, using insights to strengthen well-being initiatives, communication and employee support systems.

Through its global DEI strategy, IDEA – Inclusivity, Diversity and Equity to Accelerate, OZY Knits advances inclusive practices across its operations, with a strong focus on growth, well-being and equitable workplace experiences for all.

The event was graced by High Commissioner of India to Sri Lanka Santosh Jha, as the chief guest. A keynote address was delivered via video message by Professor Dave Ulrich, a globally recognised authority on human resources. The programme also featured addresses by International Labour Organisation (ILO) Country Director for Sri Lanka and the Maldives Joni Simpson, with ILO India Senior Specialist Employers’ Activities for South Asia Ravi Peiris attending as the guest of honour.

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