As per a survey, carried out amongst 300 women workers in spinning mills, dyeing units and garment factories, in the districts of Erode, Tirupur and Karur, most of the workers were facing various health issues and in the absence of ESI hospitals in the districts concerned, they had to depend on ESI dispensaries for medical care.
Thozhi Federation-Tamil Nadu, an alliance of women workers in unorganised sector, and the organisation behind this survey, said that 51 per cent of workers have stated that the Internal Complaints Committee (ICC) was not formed in their units.
Importantly, 22 per cent women said that they were unaware of the purpose of the committee.
Additionally, 64.3 per cent women said that their company was not contributing to their Employees Provident Fund, while 11 per cent said that they were unaware of EPF.
The federation has stressed the need for establishing separate ministries for women, both by the Central and State Governments, so that issues faced by working women could be solved.
