Ludhiana continued to remain tense for the second day today as an indefinite curfew was imposed in a few areas after protests by migrant labourers over alleged snatching of wages.
While many industries remained closed, industrialists said labourers had started leaving the city in large numbers.
Curfew was imposed in a few areas yesterday when protesting labourers turned violent and started damaging public property.
DS Chawla, president, United Cycle and Part Manufacturer Association, one of the Asia’s largest bicycle parts manufacturers’ association, said he had got reports from 60-70 industrialists that their labourers had served them notices for leaving the city. Chawla said this could put further pressure on industries, which were already grappling with labour shortage.
Vinod Thapar, president, Knitwear Club, said labourers had started leaving the city in large numbers. He said it was peak season for the hosiery industry, which had been hit badly because of the present trouble. Around 90 per cent woollen clothes in India are made in Ludhiana.
The industrialists in Punjab have already been complaining of labour shortage owing to a number of infrastructure projects running in different parts of country.
Punjab Apparel Park Managing Director Sanjeev Gupta said industry was already facing shortage of labourers and incidents like this could aggravate the industrialists’ misery.
He said with numerous infrastructure projects running in the country, the city would have to provide a congenial atmosphere for labourers.
