US-based Solidarity Center has signed a contract with DC Research to find out how much the workers are spending as living costs. The results are expected to be ready by early September, to help decide the new minimum wage for the sector for 2016. The researchers would start by training about 15 unionists with local IndustriALL affiliates, who would survey about 700 garment workers across the country on their current expenses. Union leaders have tentatively decided to ask minimum wages of US $ 177 for 2016 while the factories are of the opinion that a stiff raise will drive away buyers. The current minimum wage is US $ 128 per month.
Germany’s Friedrich Ebert Foundation, the Swiss-based IndustriALL Global Union, and the Workers’ Activities Bureau of the International Labor Organization (ILO) are also supporting the survey.
Bharat Tex Special Report 2026 
