The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Garment factory workers pour out their woes

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Jan 30, 2007
ePaper


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Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

Garment factory workers pour out their woes

Staff Reporter

They throw light on poor working conditions, pitiable wages, long hours

BANGALORE: "They abused me in such language that I feel ashamed to even repeat it," said Lakshmamma of the treatment at the garment company she works in. She was forced to double her everyday output only for an increase of Rs. 90 per month. Money from her salary gets deducted towards provident fund but she does not receive the PF slip.

Lakshmamma was speaking at a press conference held on Monday here to bring to light the squalid conditions they work in, apart from the pitiable wages and long hours they work for.

K.S. Melukote, president of the Garments Karmikara Sangha, said that nearly 90 per cent of the seven lakh workers in the garment industry are women. "They are not given their bonus, they do not have security of tenure and some times are subjected to sexual abuse," alleged Mr. Melukote.

If the workers try to form a union, the management threatens them with dire consequences, he says. Basamma, worker at another garment factory, said that she was transferred to a far-off place because she joined a union. "I have to walk two kilometres and then take a bus for six kilometres before I reach my work at 8 a.m.," she said.

M. Mallikarjunaiah, also from the same company, said that he was dismissed because he became a union leader. "They have an enquiry committee, which is represented only by the management and we barely have a say in the hearings they conduct," he said.

The sangha has demanded that a tripartite committee, constituting representatives of the management, labour union and the Government be formed to help the garment workers get a fair hearing. The sangha has also asked for sites, houses and below poverty line cards for the workers.

If their demands were not addressed, the workers would hold a demonstration in front of Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy's residence.

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Karnataka