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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5.6 Conclusions
Workers in the garment industry of Bangalore are exploited by the employers; they are not paying
'fair' or 'need based' wages, and are not offering them permanent employment after a few years of
labour when the permanent and skilled worker is entitled to all the statutory benefits. All the
workers complained that the wages were too low. Women are paid less than males for the same
jobs. The majority of the women workers said that they had difficulties in surviving in times of
illness and during maternity when wages are not paid. All the workers had difficulties paying the
house rent, food, electricity, education for their children etc. Some women had a system of saving
among themselves. Every month one woman could take the pot of saved money collected by the
group.
The daily forced overtime work and the tremendous stress due to the time limit for the export orders,
has its repercussions on the health of the workers. The wages which are paid to the workers,
are fixed according to their speed of stitching the garments. Workers are scolded by the supervisors
when they do not finish the garments in time. In some factories it is only allowed to visit the
toilet once a day. Especially women find themselves continuously in stress to combine work with
running of the household. Creches are not provided by the employers. There is no rest point in the
life of these women.
There is no work throughout the year. During a slack season, or when there are no orders at all,
the factory closes and workers have to shift to the new factory where there is a demand. Again
they have to start in the probationary period. The workers keep on shifting from one factory to the
other. The majority of the workers will never become permanent as there is no job security. Even
after many years of working in the garment industry their wage is still below the minimum, with a
working day of more than 8 hours.
Workers cannot find time to organize themselves - after (overtime) work households have to be
run - nor is hardly any labour union organizing them. They complained that they could not cope
with the work pressure and other problems inside the factory or workshop. Labour unions are
opposed by the employers, and the workers are threatened with their jobs if they join one. Because
the majority of the workers is not member of a labour union, a collective bargaining agreement
with the employer is hindered to improve their working conditions and standards.