Women’s trade union formed in textile mills

Industry news

Women’s trade union formed in textile mills

Women workers in southern textile mills have come together to form a union, against the camp labor schemes, and other exploitative practices, and to protect workers’ rights.

The union will be based in Dindigul, which is known as the hub of textile mills. The trade union is registered to work across Tamil Nadu and over 250 members have enrolled for it.

“Among the workers, 9,500 are from other states and majority of them are women. The office bearers and board members of the trade union will be women from the textile mills. We are also planning to expand to other districts with special thrust on southern districts, where sizeable workforce is employed,” said S Kavitha, president of the trade union.

During a state conference organized by the union, the workers demanded the Tamil Nadu government scrap the camp labor schemes such as Sumangali, Mankalya Thittam or Thirumagal Thirumana Thittam as they are exploitive in nature. The schemes have exploited women workers with extended working hours, unhygienic food and sanitation facilities and suppressive labor practices.

The repayment of the promised amount at the end of the three to six year scheme is irregular, and only 26% of the women are repaid while 30% of them are not paid at all.

The women also mentioned irregularity in promoting the workers - only a few were made permanent employees after two years and even then, did not receive benefits like provident fund and ESI, which they are entitled to under the camp labor scheme.