Covid-19: Apparel exporters seeks stimulus package covering wages, credit

Wants wages to be paid out of ESI funds, govt to make employer's PF contribution; seek minimum 25% hike in working capital limits, without additional collateral

Apparel exporters have urged the Prime Minister to roll out a specific financial stimulus package at the earliest to help the industry and its workers survive the impact of Covid-19 on export orders, shipments, payments and liquidity.

Pointing out that the apparel export industry employs almost 13 million workers, Apparel Export Promotion Council (AEPC) Chairman A Sakthivel said in a letter to the Prime Minister, "Unless the government immediately announces an economic package with specific focus on the apparel export sector, given the fact that industry's products are ‘perishable’, our industry ... will die a slow death."

Sakthivel said overseas buyers and