The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Garment workers to launch campaign for higher wages

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Oct 15, 2007
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Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

Garment workers to launch campaign for higher wages

Special Correspondent

Women in garment industry are paid Rs. 93 a day

Workers meet to chalk out strategy to intensify their agitation
About five lakh women are working in the garment industry

BANGALORE: Workers affiliated with the Garment and Textile Workers Union (GATWU) have decided to launch a two-month long campaign in the State demanding minimum wages of Rs. 200 a day.

Hundreds of workers of garment industry led by union leaders on Sunday took out a rally from Banappa Park to Senate Hall, Central College, here and chalked out a strategy to intensify their agitation in the coming days. Nearly five lakh women have been working in the garment industry in the State and currently they have been paid Rs. 93 a day.

Speaking at the meeting, M.C. Narasimhan, president, All India Trade Union Congress, appealed to workers to continue their agitation till all the demands were met. In the wake of the increase in prices of foodgrains, commodities and house rentals in the city, the minimum wages of Rs. 93 a day was a paltry sum. Instead of increasing wages, the former Labour Minister Iqbal Ansari had cut down benefits and wages for the unorganised sector, he alleged.

The Union Government had recently received a report of the Nation Commission for Enterprises in the Unorganised Sector and prepared the Un-organised Non-Agricultural Workers Conditions of Work and Security Bill, 2007, to fix higher minimum wages and better working conditions. Since the Centre has imposed President’s Rule in the State, GATWU leaders should meet Governor Rameshwar Thakur and submit a memorandum to him, Mr. Narasimhan said.

Stating that workers had to expand their movement to other parts of the State, the AITUC leader said workers should also hold talks with employers for early settlement of their demands.

Michael Fernandes, president, Hind Mazdoor Kisan Panchayat (HMKP), criticised the faulty policies of the State and the Union Governments and said workers should collectively fight to share the wealth they produced.

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