Orientation to the CCC for NGOs and Trade Unions
Dindigul, 22nd of March 2003

The employers don't share the profits they make with the employees. The multi-national corporations mostly don't earn factory units but buy from contractors at the cheapest prices.
Governments make concessions to foreign investors like electricity and water at cheaper rates, good infrastructure facilities as well as tax and excise exemptions for he first 5 years. After these 5 years, the investors often leave to build in other places.

Consumers campaigns like CCC raise awareness of consumers about the working
conditions of garment production, in order to gain support for campaign demands.
FWF, WRC, ETI, FLA and SAI are set up as an answer to the growing consumer demand for
clothes which are 'made in dignity'. These agencies try to develop systems to guide
companies to the implementation and monitoring of a code of conduct in their supply
chain. These agencies are also responsible to make sure that verification takes place.

In the textile mill, many children are employed. Employers say new workers are more productive than experienced ones. Therefore no worker is employed for more than 11 years, mostly only 6 years. They get dismissed without any proper reason and children between the age of 11-14 get recruited. Many face problems like tuberculosis and wheezing.

To promote positive propaganda, employers donate large amounts of money towards temple festivals, construction of temples, water tanks and schools. Many village people don't listen to the trade union's campaigns about exploitation because they fear that the employers will stop the donations to the village community.

The trade unions get no support from the Department of Labour. The employers sue the trade unions when they organize and take on the issues of the workers. Many employers mostly employ women because they are more obedient.

There are 180 spinning mills in the region but many employers moved to court to obtain a 'stay' prohibiting the workers to assemble and get organized in front of the mill gates. This violates the basic right to organize.

Contract workers get paid more than permanent workers. This is a motivation to give up their permanent job. But this means that you have no social security like ESI or PF. There are no retirement benefits or sick leave. Although ESI hospitals exist. Mill workers for example don't have access to them because they are not covered under ESI. Workers migrating from villages to towns face problems like higher house rent and higher living costs.

Activities

  Allow TUs and NGOs to supervise textile mills
  Promote agriculture related work to maintain rural employment
  Monitor the performance of government officials and send confidential reports to the     responsible higher officials
  Set up counseling centers for workers
  Prepare media note on the workers right issues
  Involve political parties in campaigns
  Organize monthly review meetings of NGOs and trade unions