Factories that forced workers to resign: Survey

The Karnataka government recently admitted to the Legislative Assembly, due to the ‘non-re-opening’ of several factories, a disturbing trend of ‘forced resignations’ has been revealed in a survey of the city’s 25 textile factories. Post LockDaw ‘.

Labor Minister A. Shivram Hebbar recently said in the assembly that before the lockout, 986 textile factories in Karnataka employed 2.86 lakh workers, mostly women, of which more than one lakh factories have not yet been re-worked. Opened.

However, a survey conducted by the Garment and Textile Workers Union (GATWU) and the Alternative Law Forum (ALF) showed that even in factories that have reopened, workers are being forced to resign. “In 17 of the 25 factories surveyed, workers said they were asked to resign by the company, as they were subsequently at a loss. Eighty-one percent of the workers said that we have resigned. The rest were opposed to the bandh or were yet to resign, ”the survey report said, which was released on Sunday.

The workers were reportedly threatened that if they did not resign voluntarily, their dues would not be paid. According to the report, the factories have also taken other aggressive measures, such as stopping transportation facilities and transferring workers to remote factories within the company but refusing to provide transportation, workers said.

Some factories had allegedly promised workers that they would be hired again if the situation stabilized, but they should now resign. “The workers also resigned because they had little money during the lockout months, which left them destitute. The report noted that with the loss of employment, workers opted for the only option of resignation as it would mean receiving some income immediately.

Three of the 25 factories surveyed have closed completely. Although the Labor Minister said that many factories were “to reopen”, there is no clarity as to whether these factories have been “closed” or will reopen. The survey found that many factories were “laid off” without legal process, depriving workers of appropriate reimbursement / closure compensation. It was recommended that the Labor Department conduct extensive inspections of textile factories, evaluate the resignations to see if they were voluntary or coerced, and to ensure that workers were retired or compensated at the time of ‘resignation’. was granted.

Effect on nutrition and education

The survey conducted by the Garment and Textile Workers Union (GATWU) and the Alternative Law Forum (ALF) said that job losses in the sector have severely affected the nutrition and education of children in textile workers and their homes. 96% of those polled reported a decrease in household income after the loosening of lockdown restrictions last year, with the most serious impact being on nutrition and education.

“There was a big reduction in expenditure on food. Workers mainly reported cuts in meat, vegetables, fruits, snacks and drinks such as tea and coffee; In some cases, the number of meals was cut two to three times a day, or even once a day.

It was noted that families were shifting their children from private to government schools to the city or their village in an effort to reduce spending. “In some cases, workers reported enrolling a child in school while dropping out of school or college for this academic year.”