Powerloom workers rally against production cut

Around 2,000 workers from various powerloom units in Surat staged dharnas outside the district collectorate on Wednesday to protest the cut in production by weaving units.

The workers are demanding various benefits such as fixed salaries and service security.

Naishadh Desai, president, Shramjivi Sevalaya, a workers' body, said, "The production cut that is being followed by the weavers is causing problems to the workers. Earlier workers were earning Rs 100-150 per day, but this amount has come down to Rs 50. How can a worker survive with this money?"

"In our opinion this production cut is entirely illegal as no permission has been sought from the labour department for this. Weavers say they have been forced to opt for production cut due to recession. If this is the case, how are thousands of powerloom machines being added in Surat each year," Desai said.

"If this is the situation at present, the plight of workers in the post-WTO regime can be imagined. From next year, cloth from other countries will start flowing into the country, and it would not be wrong to say that this would lead to a fall in demand for locally made cloth. Many domestic units will be closed down, which will only worsen the situation of workers," he said.

"The powerloom workers belong to the unorganised sector and are not provided any benefits they are eligible for under labour laws. The workers instead have to face exploitation and suppression at the hands of their employers," Desai said.

"It is high time the interests of powerloom workers are taken into consideration. If steps are not taken, the possibility that workers are driven towards suicide cannot be ruled out," Desai said.

"We are demanding that the WTO agreement be cancelled in the interest of workers. We also demand that the powerloom workers, who belong to the unorganised sector, be provided benefits such as eight-hour shift, fixed salaries, service facilities and service security. We will not hesitate to launch an agitation if the demands of workers are not fulfilled," said Desai. Weavers say that it is not possible to fulfil the workers' demands.

Manu Patel, president, Federation of Gujarat Weavers Associations, said, "The powerloom industry is passing through a phase of recession. When we ourselves are just managing to survive, how can we fulfil the demands of the workers."

"The powerloom sector is a small scale industry and the workers' demands such as fixed salaries are not justified or reasonable," Patel said.