Child-and-adult-labour-in-the-export-oriented-garment-and-gem-polishing-industry-of-India

The garment export industry of India: Tirupur and Bangalore
──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
knitted garments in one of their supplying manufacturing units in Tirupur. Their discoveries of
the practice of child labour in Tirupur and the poor working conditions and low payments, were
revealed in an English newspaper 61 and shocked the international community.
Bangalore is another example of a garment manufacturing centre which is thriving on cheap
labour; mainly women workers 62 . It is estimated that of the total workforce of 250,000 workers,
80% 63 is female. Women are the cheapest workers after children. Bangalore is the 'Mecca' for
garment manufacturers but it is not for the women and men who are working for these manufacturers;
'wages are below the minimum wage, overtime work is compulsory though wages of
overtime work are not paid twice the salary as stated in the law, no job security, no maternity leave,
harassments on the job, too much work pressure, threats made by the management with losing
their job if they join a labour union, etc.' 64 .
Though the garment industry in India generates employment for many people and earns enormous
amounts of foreign exchange, this is not an excuse to tolerate the exploitation of children and
adults, who are often from the weakest section of the society. One should question the economic
growth when the profits are not shared with the workers who deliver the profits and when the
profits do not perco-late down to the poor. One should also question a profitable industry like the
export-oriented garment industry, when it is not willing to provide its workers with a set of
minimum labour conditions, like a 'need based' minimum wage, job security, statutory benefits,
etc. For this would generate even more employment and would create a happier workforce who
can earn a living with human dignity.
33
The study
No studies exist on the labour conditions in the garment export industry of Bangalore. Only recently,
child labour in the export-oriented garment industry in Tirupur has been surveyed
thoroughly. Some of the results are given in section 4.3 of this report. These studies, however, do
not give information on children who combine work in the hosiery industry with education. The
present study will fill this gap. This is important because there are people who want to regulate
child labour and combine non-formal education with work, without having studied the impact
such a schedule can have on children.
61 The Mail On Sunday, January 8, 1995. 'For 40p, this girl works 13 hours a day making C&A clothes. And shoppers in Britain spend
millions buying them'.
62 The Sunday, January 8, 1995. 'Fashion City. Why is Bangalore the Mecca of India's garment export industry?'.
63 Deccan Herald, March 11, 1995. 'Sewn up by dire need'.
64 Deccan Herald, March 11, 1995. Ibid. Op. cit.