Please Note
- An estimate based on public data for similar roles. Not provided by the employer.
Merchandiser - Development
Role summary
Written by MyIslandJob from the job title and employer. See the employer's page for the full description.
The Development Merchandiser supports the creation and commercialization of new apparel products from initial concept through production. Requirements typically include a degree or diploma in apparel, fashion, textile technology, merchandising, or a related field, along with experience in product development, costing, fabrics, trims, and garment construction. Strong communication, organization, negotiation, analytical, and presentation skills are expected. The candidate should coordinate effectively with design, technical, sourcing, production, and customer teams; follow development calendars; monitor samples and approvals; manage costs and timelines; identify risks; and maintain high standards of quality and compliance. Knowledge of international apparel markets, Microsoft Office, and English communication is usually important.
Can I work in Sri Lanka?
Never pay anyone for a visa or a job offer. A real employer pays the permit costs and never asks you for money.
How it works
How it works: Board of Investment factories can bring in technicians and skilled workers after a local-expertise check; other factories need a sector-ministry recommendation.
Before you apply: Some places test factory skills first: Japan's Specified Skilled Worker visa usually asks for a skills test and basic Japanese, and in Singapore, metal workers on a Work Permit must pass a safety course within 3 months of arriving.
Watch for: Line operators are usually hired locally, so expect technicians and managers only (judgement). Each factory has a pre-approved cap on foreign posts.
Official source: Board of Investment: Visa Recommendation Policy and Guidelines. Checked November 2026.
What the job usually comes with in Sri Lanka
Usual for Manufacturing jobs in Sri Lanka, varies by employer. Checked November 2026.
| Housing | Varies; senior expats may get company housing or an allowance |
|---|---|
| Relocation | Employer applies; visa USD 200 a year (Board of Investment firms add USD 165); who pays and moving help vary |
| Flights | Varies; a joining flight and a yearly home ticket are mostly for senior expats |
| Contract | Visa valid 1 year or as the sponsor recommends, renewed yearly; contract length varies |
| Leave | 14 days a year after the first year; public holidays extra |
| Income tax | 0% up to LKR 150,000 a month (about USD 450), then 6% to 36%; 36% above LKR 358,000 (about USD 1,100) |
| Health cover | Residence visa needs a Health Protection Plan (since 3 June 2019); who pays is not stated; extra cover varies |
Senior staff often get more than line staff, for example a single room or a yearly home flight. Ask the employer what the job includes before you accept.
Guidance, not legal advice. Rules change; your employer confirms the details for your case.
Working in Sri Lanka
Who can work there by passport, what a job usually includes, and island life.
About Mas Holdings
MAS Holdings is one of South Asia’s leading apparel and textile manufacturers, headquartered in Sri Lanka. The group operates across product design, development, manufacturing, technology, and supply-chain services, with facilities and offices in several countries. MAS supplies innovative clothing and intimate apparel to internationally recognized brands and retailers. Its business is known for combining advanced manufacturing with strong design, product-development, sustainability, and ethical workplace practices. The company has a substantial workforce and provides opportunities in merchandising, engineering, product development, production, quality, technology, human resources, and corporate functions. A Development Merchandiser at MAS would typically work with cross-functional teams and global customers to turn concepts into commercially viable products while meeting cost, quality, delivery, and compliance expectations.