11-10-2021, 07:50 AM
Shamsheer Yousaf
and Monica Jha
Published: 5:00pm, 10 Oct, 2021
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Tiruppur, a city in the southern state of Tamil Nadu, exports goods worth US$3.5 billion to US$4 billion annually to some of the biggest global brands, including Tommy Hilfiger, Zara, and Gap. The garment cluster, home to more than 1,000 enterprises, employs over 700,000 people.
The industry has long been dogged by child labour, but in recent years campaigns by residents, non-profit organisations, the government and the industry itself had made progress.
In one such campaign, communities created Child Labour Free Zones (CLFZ), areas where children were removed from all forms of labour – gruelling factory jobs or menial home-based work – and enrolled into formal schools.
......
But, during the Covid-19 pandemic, the industry has regressed. The forum members have reported a resurgence of child labour in all CLFZs.
......
Many garment enterprises, reeling under pandemic-induced shutdowns and a slump in orders, have roped in children. They are also facing labour shortages with migrant workers staying away due to the pandemic. Meanwhile, families have lost income and are under financial pressure. The prolonged closure of schools has made children available for work.
https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/people/ar...k-20-years
and Monica Jha
Published: 5:00pm, 10 Oct, 2021
......
Tiruppur, a city in the southern state of Tamil Nadu, exports goods worth US$3.5 billion to US$4 billion annually to some of the biggest global brands, including Tommy Hilfiger, Zara, and Gap. The garment cluster, home to more than 1,000 enterprises, employs over 700,000 people.
The industry has long been dogged by child labour, but in recent years campaigns by residents, non-profit organisations, the government and the industry itself had made progress.
In one such campaign, communities created Child Labour Free Zones (CLFZ), areas where children were removed from all forms of labour – gruelling factory jobs or menial home-based work – and enrolled into formal schools.
......
But, during the Covid-19 pandemic, the industry has regressed. The forum members have reported a resurgence of child labour in all CLFZs.
......
Many garment enterprises, reeling under pandemic-induced shutdowns and a slump in orders, have roped in children. They are also facing labour shortages with migrant workers staying away due to the pandemic. Meanwhile, families have lost income and are under financial pressure. The prolonged closure of schools has made children available for work.
https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/people/ar...k-20-years