Peenya industrial area in the Indian hub of apparel manufacturing, Bengaluru is once again feeling the heat of workers’ protest. This time, over 300 women garment workers have hit the streets against the payment system in their factory. As per the workers, currently they are being paid on piece work rather than a fixed monthly salary.
In the piece rate system, the workers are remunerated for the number of pieces they sew and not on the general eight-hour shift.
It is to be noted that the garment factory employs around 1,100 workers. While 800 chose to continue with the piece rate system, 300 went against to protest. It is being said that the move is the trick to reduce the workforce strength by the management.
The latest input as reported is that a few Labour Department officials and policemen arrived at the scene. Post-intervention, 50 percent of the protestors have agreed to work on piece rate; however, rest chose to part ways with the company once their dues are settled.
This is not the first time that the apparel cluster of Bengaluru is witnessing such protests. Earlier as well, millions of garment workers took it to roads to settle their minimum wage-surge issues.