Apparel bodies plans all India strike on March 7

Manufacturers and workers of apparel industry on Friday staged a massive demonstration in Kolkata against imposition of 10% excise duty on garments. Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee had in the Union Budget proposed mandatory excise duty for all branded readymade garments and textile made-ups.

The industry observed a total closure of all manufacturing units nationwide on Friday. Aloke More, Chairman of the East India Garment Manufacturer and Exporters Association, claimed, “All major centers like Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai, Tirupur, Ludhiana, Kanpur, Ahmedabad, Indore, and Varanasi participated in the protest by closing their units.”

The industry has called for a nationwide strike in all hosiery and readymade garment segment on March 7. Major readymade retailers including Pantaloons, Shoppers’ Stop and John Players are set to join the protest.

Jai Verma, executive member, Confederation of West Bengal Hosiery and Garment Manufacturers Associations, told TSI, “West Bengal is having more than 100,000 units and directly employing about 800,000 workers. Proposed excise duty will not only spell doom for the industry, but also leave thousands jobless.” Jai demanded a total withdrawal of excise from readymade sector.

Terming this budget as ‘burden to the poor’ the Confederation said, the government’s move would fuel inflation in textile industry. All apparel manufacturing units of the state have closed production and wholesale since March 1.