Labour rights watchdog seeks AP government’s help in empowering women workers at Brandix

Pushing for higher wages for women workers at Brandix Apparel Park in Visakhapatnam district, a labour rights watchdog has sought the Andhra Pradesh government’s intervention in this matter. In a press release issued by Forum for Development of North Andhra, its members urged the government, which “often speaks about its intention to empower women”, to “immediately go to the rescue of the women employees of Brandix Apparel Park”.

According to forum chairman and former V-C of Andhra University K V Ramana and convenor A Ajay Sarma, women labourers were underpaid, barely Rs 5,000 a month. “Their demand for a minimum wage of Rs 10,000 a month is fully justified and reasonable. It is regrettable that the district administration is siding with the management of Brandix and making attempts to intimidate the agitating employees of Brandix, mostly women.”
The forum accused Brandix of taking full advantage of the special economic zone and earning crores of rupees by exporting apparel, while denying the employees what they deserve.

Seeking the government’s intervention, the forum maintained that only if the government gets involved will anyone take the matter seriously.