Tiruppur, Chennai
Tamil Nadu
government has decided to shut down the garment manufacturing units that are
involved in exports to global markets as the number of coronavirus cases is
increasing in the garment factories in Tiruppur district.
The industry was
previously exempted when the state ordered the lockdown of 15 days in May and
was allowed to fulfil its commitments related to exports. But as more workers
got infected with the virus between April and May, the garment sector decided
to shut its operations. 6 units were closed in a period of 3 days.
According to a
senior health official, after the meeting conducted by Tiruppur health
authorities with the garment factory owners, the operations will be suspended during
the week. He also added that the units have become a cluster so they will be
demarcated as containment zones.
According to M
Raja Shanmugam, President, Tiruppur Exporters Association, the industry will
have to face huge losses during the shutdown period. He also added that in the
second wave, the western markets have resumed work while India has been
isolated. This will lead to a situation wherein the units will take time to
pick up. According to him, the units were following standard operating
procedures but the social events before lockdown cause the spread of the virus.
As per Viyakula
Mary, Executive Director, Tirupur-based SAVE, many migrant workers have moved
to their hometowns.
Source – Hindustan Times
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