50% workforce in garment sector was asked to resign - Survey


ENS

Write Comment     |     E-Mail To a Friend     |     Facebook     |     Twitter     |     Print


Survey finds over 50% workforce in garment sector was asked to resign during lockdown

The Garment and Textiles Workers’ Union and Alternative Law Forum, citing the study, urged the Labour Department to inspect the factories and examine the resignations.

In yet another tale of job loss owing to the coronavirus-induced lockdown, a survey conducted among workers of garment factories in Bengaluru have estimated that over half of the workforce suffered from “forced resignations”.

According to a survey conducted by Garment and Textiles Workers’ Union (GATWU) and Alternative Law Forum (ALF) in 25 garment factories in and around the Karnataka capital, an estimated “50 to 62 per cent of the workforce” were forced to resign in 2020. Researchers indicated that at least 30,000 workers were employed in the 25 factories picked for the study titled “Forced Resignations, Stealthy Closures”.

The study noted that workers at 17 out of the 25 factories had been asked to resign by the company and found various “coercive situations constructed by factory managements” which left workers with no choice but to quit. Some of them included telling workers they would be deprived of a final settlement if they hadn’t resigned when the factory was shutting down, stopping bus transport provided to them, and promising workers of re-employment once the situation stabilises.

While 81 per cent of the respondents said they had resigned, others were protesting the closure or were yet to resign. Among those who had resigned, 85 per cent admitted that they did so on being asked by the factory managements. “They (garment workers) resigned out of fear that they will lose their dues if they did not tender resignations,” the study revealed.

Impact on household incomes, consumption


The study also found that such resignations directly impacted household incomes which then affected nutrition and even education of children to an extent. “Workers reportedly primarily cut down on meat, vegetables, fruits, snacks, and beverages such as tea and coffee. In some cases, the number of meals were cut from thrice to twice or even once a day,” it highlighted.

Certain workers, further admitted that they had to shift their children from private to government schools in the city of at their native village. “In some cases, workers reported enrolling one child in school while leaving the other out of school or college for this academic year,” the survey report mentioned.

‘Labour dept must undertake factory inspections’

Earlier last week, Labour Minister Shivaram Hebbar said that over one lakh women were not able to re-join work at garment factories. He specified that 983 garment factories were functioning last year and 2,86,747 women employees were working in those. “This year almost over 1 lakh women have not been able to join duty yet as many garment factories have not opened yet, after the coronavirus pandemic,” he told the Karnataka Assembly.

“But the question is when such a large number of women workers losing employment during the pandemic, did they get legally mandated compensation? Has the labour department kept track and ensured workers got their compensation?” GATWU and ALF said in a joint statement.

Citing the findings of the study, they urged the Labour Department to inspect the factories and examine the resignations. “The state government must consider issuing zero-interest housing loans to workers… The Women’s Commission must undertake a baseline study of the state of nutrition and health among garment workers and suggest interventions necessary within existing public food and healthcare delivery systems,” it added.

The survey was conducted in two phases between September and October 2020, and January and February 2021. While 89 workers were interviewed for the first phase, 65 workers responded to the second phase, the team behind the survey clarified.

Write your Comments on this Article
Your Name
Native Place / Place of Residence
Your E-mail
Your Comment   You have characters left.
Security Validation
Enter the characters in the image above
    
Disclaimer: Please write your correct name and email address. Kindly do not post any personal, abusive, defamatory, infringing, obscene, indecent, discriminatory or unlawful or similar comments. Kemmannu.com will not be responsible for any defamatory message posted under this article.
Please note that under 66A of the IT Act, sending offensive or menacing messages through electronic communication service and sending false messages to cheat, mislead or deceive people or to cause annoyance to them is punishable. It is obligatory on kemmannu.com to provide the IP address and other details of senders of such comments, to the authority concerned upon request. Hence, sending offensive comments using kemmannu.com will be purely at your own risk, and in no way will Kemmannu.com be held responsible.
Similarly, Kemmannu.com reserves the right to edit / block / delete the messages without notice any content received from readers.




Symphony98 Releases Soul-Stirring Rendition of Len
View More

Way Of Cross on Good Friday 2024 | Live From | St. Theresa’s Church, Kemmannu, Udupi | LIVEWay Of Cross on Good Friday 2024 | Live From | St. Theresa’s Church, Kemmannu, Udupi | LIVE
Good Friday 2024 | St. Theresa’s Church, Kemmannu | LIVE | UdupiWay Of Cross on Good Friday 2024 | Live From | St. Theresa’s Church, Kemmannu, Udupi | LIVE
2 BHK Flat for sale on the 6th floor of Eden Heritage, Santhekatte, Kallianpur, Udupi2 BHK Flat for sale on the 6th floor of Eden Heritage,  Santhekatte, Kallianpur, Udupi.
Maundy Thursday 2024 | LIVE From St. Theresa’s Church, Kemmannu | Udupi |Maundy Thursday 2024 | LIVE From St. Theresa’s Church, Kemmannu | Udupi |
Kemmennu for sale 1 BHK 628 sqft, Air Conditioned flatKemmennu for sale 1 BHK 628 sqft, Air Conditioned  flat
Symphony98 Releases Soul-Stirring Rendition of Lenten Hymn "Khursa Thain"Symphony98 Releases Soul-Stirring Rendition of Lenten Hymn
Palm Sunday 2024 at St. Theresa’s Church, Kemmannu | LIVEPalm Sunday 2024 at St. Theresa’s Church, Kemmannu | LIVE
Final Journey of Patrick Oliveira (83 years) || LIVE From KemmannuFinal Journey of Patrick Oliveira (83 years) || LIVE From Kemmannu
Carmel School Science Exhibition Day || Kmmannu ChannelCarmel School Science Exhibition Day || Kmmannu Channel
Final Journey of Prakash Crasta | LIVE From Kemmannu || Kemmannu ChannelFinal Journey of Prakash Crasta | LIVE From Kemmannu || Kemmannu Channel
ಪ್ರಗತಿ ಮಹಿಳಾ ಮಹಾ ಸಂಘ | ಸ್ತ್ರೀಯಾಂಚ್ಯಾ ದಿಸಾಚೊ ಸಂಭ್ರಮ್ 2024 || ಸಾಸ್ತಾನ್ ಘಟಕ್ಪ್ರಗತಿ ಮಹಿಳಾ ಮಹಾ ಸಂಘ | ಸ್ತ್ರೀಯಾಂಚ್ಯಾ ದಿಸಾಚೊ ಸಂಭ್ರಮ್ 2024 || ಸಾಸ್ತಾನ್ ಘಟಕ್
Valentine’s Day Special❤️||Multi-lingual Covers || Symphony98 From KemmannuValentine’s Day Special❤️||Multi-lingual Covers || Symphony98 From Kemmannu
Final Journey of Lionel John Lewis (74 years) | LIVE from Milagres Cathedral | Kallianpur | UdupiFinal Journey of Lionel John Lewis (74 years) | LIVE from Milagres Cathedral | Kallianpur | Udupi
Rozaricho Gaanch December 2023 issue, Mount Rosary Church Santhekatte Kallianpur, UdupiRozaricho Gaanch December 2023 issue, Mount Rosary Church Santhekatte Kallianpur, Udupi
An Ernest Appeal From Milagres Cathedral, Kallianpur, Diocese of UdupiAn Ernest Appeal From Milagres Cathedral, Kallianpur, Diocese of Udupi
Diocese of Udupi - Uzvd Decennial Special IssueDiocese of Udupi - Uzvd Decennial Special Issue
Final Journey Of Canute Pinto (52 years) | LIVE From Mount Rosary Church | Kallianpura | UdupiFinal Journey Of Canute Pinto (52 years) | LIVE From Mount Rosary Church | Kallianpura | Udupi
Earth Angels Anniversary | Comedy Show 2024 | Live From St. Theresa’s Church | Kemmannu | UdupiEarth Angels Anniversary | Comedy Show 2024 | Live From St. Theresa’s Church | Kemmannu | Udupi
Vespers 2024 | St. Theresa’s Church, KemmannuVespers 2024 | St. Theresa’s Church, Kemmannu
Annual Church Feast 2024 | St. Theresa’s Church, KemmannuAnnual Church Feast 2024 | St. Theresa’s Church, Kemmannu
Confraternity Sunday | St. Theresa’s Church, KemmannuConfraternity Sunday | St. Theresa’s Church, Kemmannu
Kemmannu Cricket Match 2024 | LIVE from KemmannuKemmannu Cricket Match 2024 | LIVE from Kemmannu
CHRISTMAS MASS-2023 | St. Theresa’s Church | Live from Kemmannu | UdupiCHRISTMAS MASS-2023 | St. Theresa’s Church | Live from Kemmannu | Udupi
Annual Day 2023 | Carmel English School, Live From KemmannuAnnual Day 2023 | Carmel English School, Live From Kemmannu
Naturya - Taste of Namma Udupi - Order NOWNaturya - Taste of Namma Udupi - Order NOW
New Management takes over Bannur Mutton, Santhekatte, Kallianpur. Visit us and feel the difference.New Management takes over Bannur Mutton, Santhekatte, Kallianpur. Visit us and feel the difference.
Easter 2023 - Milrachi Lara From Milagres Cathedral, Kallianpur, UdupiEaster 2023 - Milrachi Lara From Milagres Cathedral, Kallianpur, Udupi
Focus Studio, Near Hotel Kidiyoor, UdupiFocus Studio, Near Hotel Kidiyoor, Udupi