Shutdowns to delay garment export order fulfilment: TEA

Tirupur, Chennai

The garment units in Tirupur (Tamil Nadu) will keep their shutters down from May 14 evening till May 24 to prevent the spread of coronavirus, according to a top official from Tirupur Exporters Association (TEA). Raja M Shanmugam, President, TEA, said that this decision will lead to a delay in export orders fulfilment, which might hamper the reputation of the industry. However, this decision is important as the industry is structured in such a way that it involves movement of people for various purposes, so there are high chances of the virus getting spread. He also said that despite the opening of the European and the US markets, the industry has to follow safety protocols and assume a lockdown in the units.

As of last week, a total of 3,912 people were tested positive for the coronavirus in Tirupur. According to the District Collector, COVID infections will surge in the future, causing a scarcity of hospital beds and oxygen cylinders due to which a shutdown of the units is important.

Shanmugam also said that the migrant workers who wanted to go have already gone back to their native states in the past 10 days and the ones who have stayed back will be taken care of during the lockdown period.

Source: DT Next