After going on an indefinite strike since 19th March, the owners of job-working powerloom units in the districts of Coimbatore and Tirupur have made the decision to intensify their protests and begin an indefinite fast on 16th April 2025.
The Coimbatore district collector, Pavankumar G. Giriyappanavar, called a meeting on Tuesday, according to E.M. Bhoopathi, president of the Coimbatore Tirupur district job working powerloom unit owners association. The textile owners agreed to a 7 per cent pay increase over the 2022 wages.
In demand of a wage hike, over 1 lakh powerlooms that supply fabric businesses in the two districts halted operations last month.
They asserted that the fabric manufacturers did not adhere to the 2022 wages and instead paid rates that were agreed upon in 2014. Additionally, they said that cloth weaving was no longer feasible due to increased labour, electricity, and other production costs.
The proprietors of job working units and fabric producers have had several discussions with the district collectors of Tirupur and Coimbatore.
It was requested that wages be increased by 30 per cent from 2022. The textile producers have consented to 7 per cent. This won’t help cover daily production expenses. Therefore, there needs to be a fair increase in pay, said Bhoopathi, adding that a decision has been reached to embark on an indefinite fast till the wage demand is satisfied.
