Kerala - Kannur   

Handloom workers seek minimum wages

KANNUR: Handloom workers will stage marches and dharnas in front of Central government offices on Tuesday to highlight their various demands, including minimum wages for handloom workers.

The Kerala State Handloom Workers’ Council (affiliated to the Centre of Indian Trade Unions) State general secretary Arakkan Balan said in a press release here that the handloom sector was in a crisis owing to various reasons.

Prices of yarn and dyes had recorded 20 to 38 per cent hike since June. While there was a shortage in supply of cotton in the country, export of cotton continued unchecked. Unscientific taxation and fuel price hike had put additional burdens on weavers and the handloom industry, he pointed out.

Stating that handloom workers in the State were on the verge of penury due to lack of work and “wrong policies” of the Central government on the price front, Mr. Balan said that steps such as handloom branding should be made compulsory for handloom products to check power loom products being sold as handloom items.

A national level enforcement of minimum wage for handloom workers, reservation of 22 per cent design items for handloom sector, sanctioning of financial assistance to write off loans of Hantex, Hanveev and primary weavers’ cooperative societies, permission to utilise Centrally-sponsored schemes in accordance with the special features of the State, introduction of special patent for handloom and housing loan assistance to handloom workers were among the demands of the council.

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