In an unfortunate incident a teenage girl died at Raajco Spinners Private Ltd., a cotton textile mill in Dindigul( Tamil Nadu). The textile company has been operational for over 25 years and employs 600 people who work continuously in three shifts. The girl named Nirmala Selvi, 17, had been working in the spinning department of the mill for over six months. A statement released by Tamil Nadu Textile and Common Labour Union( TTCU), claims that she came back to her room after a night shift and was resting the next day, but when her sister tried contacting |
her, she was untraceable. As per TTCU, Nirmala’ s sister was not allowed to enter her room when she visited and was instead asked to go to a Government Hospital, in Karur, where she found that her sister had died. Nirmala’ s parents have claimed that there were scratches and wounds all over her body. The mill management has rejected all the allegations made by the deceased worker’ s family members. On the contrary, Raajco Spinners claim that the young girl hung herself. However, her family has countered the claim, saying |
that Nirmala was very happy and there was no apparent reason for her to commit suicide. Nirmala’ s parents have put certain demands in front of the District Manager, which includes a strict investigation in the presence of a DSP over the claims made by the mill as she was just 17 years old. They further demanded that the District Child Protection Officer should also be present at the time of the investigation. The family also demanded Rs. 1,00,000 in compensation from the textile mill.
Apparel Online is in possession of a copy of the FIR lodged in the above mentioned case.
|
There have been 8 such deaths within the last three months in various textile companies in Dindigul, so now Dindigul administration has decided to start‘ sensitisation workshops’ to improve working conditions in about 200 spinning mills. These workshops will help to empower girls to report harassment, help them to manage work pressure and support their will to continue their education, along with their job. |
|
Four years ago, during the parliament elections in May 2014, a picture of ex-CEO of Infosys and a Congress candidate for Bangalore South constituency Nandan Nilekani having lunch with garment factory workers in a factory canteen, had caught the imagination of the industry. The workers were hopeful that their demands would be fulfilled. But neither did Nandan win his seat, nor did any of the demands of the workers got fulfilled.
Now four years later, Rahul Gandhi, Congress President, also visited a garment factory at Suddaguntepalya off Hosur Road and interacted with the factory workers. Although Congress has won 78 seats in Assembly elections and will form Government with JD( S) support, the state’ s garment workers seem to be at the losing end, as usual, as the manifesto of political parties have nothing special for garment workers.
|
Increase in minimum wage and improvement in their working conditions are the main and long pending issues of workers. Worker representatives and union leaders believe that owners of garment industry are united, so they will not allow increase in the wages. Bangalore alone has more than 4 lakh workers in around 1,000 factories, 70 per cent of whom are women. Before or after election, workers are not hopeful about any party bringing in change, as their previous experience is not encouraging and they have been ignored by all the Governments in the past. As per the law, wages have to be increased every three years at the earliest and maximum before five years. But in the state, in last four decades, there have been only four revisions, whereas there should have been eight revisions. In February 2018, the State Government had |
Rahul Gandhi seen talking to workers in a garment factory
issued a draft notification and promised an increase of wages from Rs. 8,500 to Rs. 12,250. But in March, the draft notification was retracted. So irrespective of new or old Government, workers struggle is continuing. Another important but pending demand of garment workers is
|
transportation support at low cost. Indira Sarige bus service scheme( affordable bus rides for women working in garment factories) is still pending as various Government departments and factory owners have not reached at a cost-sharing formula, acceptable to both. |