Garment workers stitch shirts at a textile factory.
Credit: Reuters File Photo
Bengaluru: The Garment and Textile Workers Union (GATWU) on Sunday urged the state government to eliminate wage discrimination by including garment workers in the minimum wages revision notification and providing them a minimum wage of Rs 42,000 per month.
Affiliated to the All India Central Council of Trade Unions (AICCTU), GATWU organised a convention of garment workers, where a book titled ‘Sooji-daradondige Baduku’ (A life with needle and thread) by GATWU president Dr R Prathibha was released.
Prathibha pointed out that garment workers were only earning around Rs 12,800 when those workers in other scheduled industries were earning a minimum wage of around Rs 18,000, even as garment industry contributes significantly to the country’s export economy.
“All these workers are women. This is nothing short of institutional gender-based discrimination,” she added.
Writer-activist Du Saraswathi stated that it was the responsibility of all persons using these products to stand up and fight for their rights.
Referring to the historical role of garment workers in the labour movement, including in achieving the 8-hour workday demand, AICCTU vice-president Cliffton Rozario noted that the struggle would continue until the demands of garment workers are met.
The convention unanimously passed a five-point resolution, which also included a demand to the Centre to withdraw the four “anti-worker” labour codes, retaining 8-hour workday practice, prohibiting night shifts for women garment workers and others.