In a recent incident, the poor working conditions of textile workers in Tamil Nadu, India came to light when two teenage female workers allegedly tried to escape from a spinning mill where they were forced to work in a 12-hour shift and were banned from contacting their family and studying.
The Tamil Nadu Textile and Common Labour Union stated in a report that the teenagers were found unconscious two hours later by residents from nearby villagers. The incident highlights the condition of textile workers who are forced to work for little or no money to pay off loans or earn for their basic utilities.
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Mills mainly hire young girls, under the so-called ‘Sumangali’ schemes offering Rs. 30,000-60,000 to their families for three years’ work, which apparently they do not necessarily receive in full amount because of deductions for their food and lodging.
A senior local official said an investigation had been ordered into the incident with the state’s labour department is initiating a drive to check working conditions in mills across western Tamil Nadu, a hub for India’s US $ 42 billion-a-year textile and clothing export industry.
