Around 50,000 manufacturing units across India kept their operations shut
The Indian Apparel Industry today observed a nationwide agitation in protest of continuously rising cotton yarn prices. Nationally, around 50,000 manufacturing units from power-loom, handloom and made-up segments participated in this strike and kept their operations shut for a day.
Manufacturing units in the States of Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Punjab, West Bengal were the major protestors where apparel making centers like Tirupur, Coimbatore, Ludhiana, Bangalore, Bhiwandi, Ahmedabad, Delhi and NCR region stopped their operations for a whole day. In Tirupur, Tamil Nadu – one of the hubs for apparel making and exports – about 1,00,000 people observed a hunger strike. These comprised of factory owners, workers, trade unions, etc.
“All apparel manufacturers across segments kept their operations shut in support to their demands against increasing cotton yarn prices. As every apparel manufacturer is suffering because of this burgeoning issue, we received good response to our call for today’s strike. It highlights the gravity of the problem and now the time has come for the Government to intervene and consider our demands. Ultimately, it is the question of the future of manufacturers and about 6 million labours the industry employ.” said Mr Premal Udani
As a part of this nationwide protest, today, the key representatives of Apparel Export Promotion Council (AEPC) and other industry forums participating in the strike met the Honourable Secretary, Ministry of Textiles, Ms Rita Menon and handed over a Memorandum of the industry’s demands over the issue. Likewise, key industry representatives at regional levels across districts gathered together to handover their demands to respective District Collectors.
Mr Premal Udani, Chairman of AEPC handed over the Memorandum of demands to Mr B A Patel, Joint Commissioner of Textiles in Mumbai. In New Delhi, Mr Praveen Nayyar, Vice Chairman of AEPC along with other industry members met Ms Rita Menon, Secretary, Ministry of Textiles.
The industry players have been continuously raising their voices against the increasing cotton yarn prices, which have gone up by 80% to 100% in last one year. The scenario has been pushing many manufacturers close their operations to render their labours jobless. It has also impacted the prices of final apparel products in the market.
Added Mr Udani, “Through today’s protest, we have sought an immediate intervention by the Textile Ministry to take necessary controlling steps. We demand rationalization of cotton yarn prices through calibrated exports and other measures. Exports should be limited to surplus, and there should be a ban on cotton yarn export till the yarn supply is restored back to normalcy. We want to ensure home advantage to domestic players by making the cotton yarn available to them for meeting their supply commitments. We expect prioritized support from the Government based on value addition and employability.”
About AEPC:
Incorporated in 1978, Apparel Export Promotion Council (AEPC) is the official body of garment exporters that provides invaluable assistance to Indian exporters as well as importers/international buyers who choose India as their preferred sourcing destination for garments. With 40 offices and 8,000 small, medium and large garment exporters across India, AEPC today has grown to become the most powerful association for promotion and facilitation of garment manufacturing and exports. With an objective of building a strong ground for the Indian exporters, AEPC is committed to provide various platforms to Indian exporters which would help in achieving growth of garment exports.
