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

Adult labour in the garment export industry of Bangalore
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Casual and temporary workers
None of the interviewed workers had a permanent job. They said that, except the staff, all their
colleagues also were not permanent. From past work experience they knew they would never become
permanent because they were sent out before the time they could get the status of permanent
worker. They can be removed at any time by their employers as there is no job security. The
women said that the work was not available the whole year through. During slack times, the
factory sends the workers home. But because these workers needed income, they started working
in other factories. In the new factory they had to work in a probationary period again; this way the
worker will never become permanent.
Some of the workers had an identity card which is meant for security, but some women thought
that the card is a proof of being a permanent worker.
Mostly the probationary period in a garment factory varied from 6 to 12 month. It took at least
one more year before a worker could be made a permanent worker. Long before this time there
comes a slack period in the export of garments which means there is no work for the workers and
they are simply sent home. The interviewed women said that after the probationary period their
wages were slightly increased and they were told by the employer that, suppose they worked hard
and good, they would become permanent or make promotion with higher wages. The employer
keeps the workers satisfied by promising higher wages, permanent status and promotion, which
never happens in reality.
If a worker is not permanent and when the employer does not keep a record of the workers, it
means that statutory benefits like ESI and PF, bonus, sickness leave, paid 12 gazette holidays etc.
are not paid. This casual labour force which shifts from one factory to the other does not have
rights. The main problem is that the workers cannot get their rights enforced. They accept every
wage and other labour conditions, because they can be dismissed any time because they are not
registered and permanent.
Health hazards
The common health problems reported by the women were knee, back and body pains due to
being in a standing position for the whole day. Some women expressed that they were only
allowed to visit the toilet once a day which caused problems of its own. Next to these physical
problems, the women experienced an enormous work pressure, due to the fact that they were
forced to finish a certain amount of garments per day. Especially in times when an export order
had to be finished in time, the work pressure was high. The attitude of the supervisor also had repercussions
on the health of the workers. If the women did not work according to the wishes of
the supervisors they became harsh to the workers. The women said that they constantly lived in
fear of losing their job. They were always afraid of becoming ill, because it meant they could lose
their job or their wage could be reduced.
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5.4 Case study of a garment manufacturing unit in Bangalore
This garment manufacturer is an exporter and is located near a slum in Bangalore. The factory is