In Tamil Nadu, industry associations seek support for the units as State Government permits partial operation of industries only in some districts even as it announced continuing of the lockdown with some relaxations.
The State Government has decided to permit the exporting units to work with 10 per cent workforce.
Though this will give confidence to international buyers and the units will be able to take forward the orders on hand, running the manufacturing units with such low workforce will be very difficult.
Ashwin Chandran, Chairman, Southern India Mills’ Association (SIMA) said the textile units in Madurai and Tiruchi districts should be permitted to operate with 50 per cent workforce as there is a decline in COVID-19 cases there.
In the eight districts where the cases are high, the units should be permitted to operate with workers who are staying in the premises. There are several challenges for the units if the workers are kept idle at the industries. He also added that the units are vaccinating the workers and it is easy to vaccinate every worker if they come to work.
M.V. Ramesh Babu, President, Coimbatore District Small Industries Association said that exporting units in Coimbatore will not be able to operate with just 10 per cent workforce as the workers cannot use two-wheelers to travel to work.
And it is very difficult for MSME units to organise common vehicles for transport. Only when there is production and supply of products will the units have flow of funds. The units have no option but to remain closed for another week. So, the State and Central Governments should extend financial support to the MSMEs here.
