Garment industry seeks permission to function at full capacity

It is currently been allowed to function with 30% workforce

As more lockdown restrictions are expected to ease by Monday, the labour-intensive garment industry has asked the State government for permission to function at full capacity. While the government has allowed factories to work at 50% capacity, the garment industry has been allowed to function with 30% workforce. The Karnataka Employers’ Association on Thursday appealed to the government to enhance workforce strength to 100% or at least 75% in the interest of the industry as vaccination of employees had commenced. Garment units here have received good national and international orders with strict deadlines, and units could face penalty if they are not adhered to. It said over 1,000 export oriented units in Karnataka had been severely hit by the lockdown, and estimated the losses to be ₹5,250 crore. The garment industry in the State has about 10 lakh employees, mostly women.