Garment Factory Workers facing Difficult period

keralamonitor.com December 31 .

A number of workers of two garment factories in Barka will have a tough New Year celebration without sufficient food! Two garment factories there are not paying salary for several months, alleged workers. They are reluctant to implement labour court order to pay workers compensation and their repatriation. Continuing the saga of unfair labour practices in such companies , the Indian embassy officials said that their hands are tied.

According to the workers there are nearly 200 staff who are living without salary for the last five and half months. They have been running from pillar to post to get justice and even some labour court judgments are not implemented. Universal Garment factory workers are facing the same situation.

According to them, they are not getting enough support from the Indian Embassy officials. However, the embassy officials said they cannot do anything, except writing about the issue to the foreign affairs ministry. One Indian businessman, Salim Khan, who was running the Excellent Garment factory disappeared recently leaving most of the workers in difficult situation. According to sources, he has run into financial problems due to the difficult market situation in and outside the Gulf region. Except a handful of garment factories, others are running on loss and workers are facing serious situation. "for the last fifteen days, we are getting only dal and rice. We dont have money even to visit the Indin Embassy in Muscat or the labour office. Please help us," said one of the workers.

Nearly 85 Indian workers, including 14 Malayalis are stranded in one factory. The Arab sponsor is trying to find a solution in coordination with the Indian and Sree Lankan embassies. However, the workers are desperate to get their salalry and return ticket. About 80 Arab staff also faced similar problems. The Indian businessman Slim Khan who owns garment factories in Dubai is facing financial difficulties, it is learned. The Sri Lankan embassy is trying to help the 200 odd females. Workers want release to work outside or repatriation. --keralamonitor.com

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