'Most garment workers in City anaemic'

Over 60 per cent of workers in Bangalore’s garment factories are anaemic, Minister for Labour P T Parameshwara Naik told the Legislative Council on Wednesday. 

“There are 703 garment factories which employ 2,32,801 women workers. The fact that they are anaemic came to light during a recent medical checkup of 67,592 women workers conducted by ESI doctors,” the minister said, in reply to a question by the BJP member Tara Anooradha. Of the women who went for a checkup, 60.6 per cent were found to be anaemic. 

The labour department has already taken steps to treat the women by providing them medical assistance at ESI hospitals, he added. This apart, the government has instructed the garment factories to provide nutritious food to the workers in their canteens. The ESI doctors are set to carry out another medical checkup of the women in three or four months. 

The minister stressed that the labour department had initiated strict action against the factories in view of work-related issues and health concerns among women workers there.