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Over 400,000 garment workers across Karnataka have begun a protest campaign to demand a pay increase in line with the state government’s February 22, 2018 draft notification. The Garments and Textile Workers Union has limited its campaign to members sending hand-written postcards to the state’s chief minister about their working conditions. The union has threatened to call strike action if wages are not increased soon.
According to the government’s draft order, unskilled workers’ wages were to be lifted to around 13,800 rupees ($US169) per month, including a dearness allowance. Garment workers currently receive a meagre 10,441 rupees ($US128.42) monthly, including the dearness allowance.
In 2017–2018, the then-Congress government in Karnataka revised minimum wages in more than 30 industries but withdrew its draft order following industry owners’ opposition. The unions challenged the withdrawal of the minimum wage rise in the High Court, which ruled in their favour. While the affected industries appealed the verdict in the Supreme Court, their petition was dismissed. They have now filed a review petition, further delaying the minimum pay rise.
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