One lakh women lost jobs due to Covid-19 pandemic: Karnataka Labour Minister

This statistic came as a response to Tiptur MLA Nagesh BC during Question Hour

More than a lakh women employed at garment factories in Karnataka lost jobs as several units shut down because of the Covid-19 pandemic, Labour Minister Shivaram Hebbar told the Legislative Assembly on Thursday.

As many as 2,86,747 women were employed in 983 garment factories of the state prior to the lockdown, according to the minister.

Hebbar was responding to Tiptur MLA Nagesh BC during Question Hour. The MLA highlighted the poor state-of-affairs at garment factories. "The guidelines for the welfare of women employees at such factories issued by the government are not followed," Nagesh said.

Factories are mandated by law to provide canteen facility, ambulance and paid leave for the women employed. However, they are not followed at all, Nagesh said. Hebbar acknowledged that the Labour Department was short of staff to monitor the implementation of all guidelines issued by the government.

Despite the constraints, the minister said that notices were issued to 396 garment factories for not implementing government guidelines. The department, he said, will also write to the government to ensure that the staff shortage is addressed.

Nagesh contended that several factories were even denying minimum wages to labourers. The government, Hebbar said, had taken cognisance of such instances and has acted against 239 people responsible for this.