Allow at least sampling works for survival, urge textile units

“Nevertheless, if this uncertainty over resuming textile production prolongs, then the entire knitwear cluster in the district may collapse. It may then be nearly impossible to bring back our labour intensive sector back on its foot. Industries are perplexed as to why the government isn’t taking a concrete step towards resuming this pivotal economic activity and give us some solace,” said Raja M Shanmugham, president of Tirupur Exporters Association (TEA).

The exporters wanted the government to allow functioning of at least sampling units with minimal workforce.

“As ours is a design driven industry, samples need to be made and send to buyers in European Union, UK and US for approval. Only if sampling works are taken up now, garments could be made in the subsequent months to be exported during September and December for the spring season. Our buyers in other countries have been asking for spring summer samples to approve and give orders for shipment. We have already lost business for the last three seasons due to the lockdown,” he added.

In the last financial year, the Tirupur textile knitwear cluster made an export for Rs 26,000 crore worth of knitwear garments and Rs 24,000 crore of garments for domestic consumption.

“The knitwear cluster has incurred an estimated loss of Rs 8,000 crores for the months of April and May. Industries have made a plea to the government to provide some relief package to save this sector,” said TR Vijaya Kumar, general secretary of TEA.

The exporters fear that they may lose out to their competitors in China, Bangladesh, Vietnam, Cambodia and Pakistan, which have already started production. “They have been supplying garments to buyers in European Union and other countries. Despite our persistent requests, both the state and Union governments remain mute to our issues,” said another exporter.

Industries fear that in the worst case scenario lakhs of people may go jobless and there may be an exodus of migrant population from Tirupur. The knitwear cluster provides employment to about six lakh workers directly. They are rather prepared to function by following health etiquettes through social distancing, wearing masks and proper hygiene.