Garment exporters in Tirupur are probably the happiest lot today.
Thanks to DISHA – ‘Driving Industry towards Sustainable Human Capital Advancement’ – an initiative sponsored by the Ministry of Textiles, which attempts to educate apparel exporters on a code of ethics.
This initiative, which was launched by the Apparel Export Promotion Council (AEPC) in December 2011 has started yielding results. “The country is getting paid for being factory compliant. The expansion of orders into India is expected to fetch an additional $3 billion business,” said AEPC Chairman A. Sakthivel.
The current volatility in international buying is obvious. Chain stores and international brands such as Walmart, GAP, American Eagle, JC Penny, Target, Sears, Tommy, Nike, Abercrombie & Fitch, Old Navy, Sara Lee, Hanes, Marks & Spencers, and many more have indicated their preference to source the merchandise from India, the AEPC chief said.
These brands maintained the highest standards of factory compliance, he added.
Over 200 garment manufacturing units have already gone through vigorous capacity building in the area of 11 management principle under DISHA such as hours of work, wages and benefits, health and safety, freedom of association, prohibit child labour, prohibit bonded and forced labour, prevent harassment and abuse, right to collective bargaining, protect environment and establish and implement management system.
“DISHA intervention has benefited the garment factories,” he added.
Citing an international agency’s finding, Sakthivel said that the garment exporting units in India paid an average monthly wage of $170. “The industry is paying a decent sum, but the workers are hard to come by. At least 30-40 per cent of them are migrant labourers.”