COIMBATORE: A Coimbatore-based think-tank has discovered to its dismay that 75 per cent of the workforce in the state’s textile industry are adolescents (below 18 years). This has prompted it to reiterate the call for totally abolishing all forms of child labour. “Employment of children below the age of 18 in all forms of labour should be banned. Right to quality, equal, free and compulsory education should be ensured for all children below the age of 18 years”, said C. Nambi, executive director of centre for social education and development, Coimbatore.
The CSED conducted a consultation programme with lawyers on the issue of adolescent and women workers in the textile industry in the city on Monday. “A person should complete 18 years to join trade unions. Surprisingly 75 per cent of the workers are below 18 years and 90 per cent of them are migrant workers. Moreover, the majority are girls in the 15-18-year age group. In the state we have approximately 2.50 lakh workers (in the textile industry) and of them 75 per cent are adolescent workers,” Nambi disclosed, sharing a survey done by the centre.
Wages given to apprentices should be in accordance with the Minimum Wages Act and set by the state government. The minimum wages set for apprentices in textile industry is Rs 283 per day. For casual labourers a minimum wage of Rs 15, 000 per month should be ensured, he stressed. “We urge the central, state and local governance bodies to create employment opportunities at the local level itself and prevent migration of people in search of jobs,” he said. Proper identity cards should be issued to all the labourers working in the textile mills. Regularization of all labourers, especially women, who have worked for 480 days in two years, should be regularized and they should be provided with all benefits meant for employees, he stressed.
Women hostels run by factories should also be registered under the Tamil Nadu hostels and homes for women and children act 2014. But thousands of factories function in violation of this law, he pointed out. The centre also has a toll free number 1800 4251092 for the adolescent and women workers in the textile industry. “In a year we have received around 1000 phone calls and we have picked up 40 cases,” added Nambi.
