Observing the criticality and addressing the reports on garment & textile worker-related cases in the textile hub of south India – Tamil Nadu, counselling sessions for the workers have been initiated by Tamil Nadu Spinning Mills Association (TASMA) that represents more than 650 mills.
Work pressure, trauma, ill-treatment and sexual harassment are major the problems being faced by workers employed in textile mills in the state.
The workforce, majorly represented by young women, is compelled to work for long hours and forced to live in unauthorised hostels.
A series of deaths reported in textile factories and hostels raises questions on safety of the workers. Reports claim that some of the deaths cases are suicidal and a proper investigation has not been carried out in such cases. In the last three months, 23 such deaths were reported in Tamil Nadu.
The families of the deceased seek proper investigation in death cases to actually highlight the plight of these workers who live away from their home to earn livelihood for their families.
Tirupur and Erode districts collectively known as “Textile Valley of India”, where majority of the industry is located, reported 10 deaths.
A sanitisation workshop to help improve the conditions in up to 200 spinning mills has been initiated by the Dindigul administration.
The counselling will help the young talent of the textile industry to release their work-related stress and deal better with the situation. They are also being encouraged to report harassment at workplace.
