CHENNAI: Leather product units in Tamil Nadu are experiencing a severe manpower shortage.

Described by people associated with the industry as "a serious threat," it comes at a time when increasing number of foreign companies are looking at India as a cost-effective manufacturing base.

The shortage has brought to the fore the tug of war over human resources within the sector. The situation is because of the growth in the services sector. Interestingly, one of the targets set by the Union Commerce Ministry for the fast-developing leather industry is generation of an additional one million jobs over the next five years.

Youth not interested

Noting that the shortage is translating into increased expenditure on wages for the units, Council for

Leather Exports Chairman M. Rafeeque Ahmed says it is becoming difficult to retain manpower even at higher salaries. Moreover, the youth are showing no inclination to join the leather sector. More and more of the potential manpower are keen on joining the new economy companies and leading brands.

The labour crunch, says Council Executive Director K. Elangovan, is acute at the middle-level that essentially comprises trained personnel employed as pattern makers and supervisors. They manage and guide the shop floor workers. The demand for both technical and shop floor workers is bound to increase with the emphasis on increasing the export of leather products.

Poaching common

As an offshoot, poaching of labour is becoming common among units in and around Ambur, Ranipet and Vaniyambadi, says Mr. Ahmed, pointing out that some were even getting people from northern India.

He underscores the need for government-run training institutions to launch short-term courses at locations near the leather units. Mr. Elangovan lists out a host of measures needed, including introduction of leather courses in ITIs and polytechnics, reduction in fees, setting up units in villages with prospective manpower population and adoption of some ITIs by the industry.

Executive Director of the Indian Institute of Leather Products K. Balasubramanian says the Institute may explore the possibility of setting up a footwear training extension centre at Ambur to cater to the needs of candidates in Vellore district.

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