Lok Sabha Question No. 1930 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-12-19
Subject: Workers in Garment Factories
Ministry: LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
Asked by: Veena Devi

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1930 TO BE ANSWERED ON 19 TH  DECEMBER, 2022

## WORKERS IN GARMENT FACTORIES

## 1930. SHRIMATI VEENA DEVI :

Will the Minister of LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  employment  of  women  and  men  workers  in  garment factories was largely affected and they were rendered jobless during the Covid pandemic;
- (b) if so, the details of unemployed workers, State-wise and gender-wise;
- (c) the  number  of  complaints  by  women  workers  received  regarding  their safety  and  harassment  while  working  in  garment  factories  and  the action taken on such complaints; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor, State-wise?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT (SHRI RAMESWAR TELI)

(a) to (d): The data on Employment and Unemployment is collected through Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) conducted by the Ministry of Statistics & Programme Implementation (MoSPI) since 2017-18. The survey period is July  to  June  of  the  next  year.  As  per  the  latest  available  Annual  PLFS reports,  the  estimated  Worker  Population  Ratio  (WPR)  on  usual  status  for persons of age 15 years & above has increased to 52.6% during 2020-21 from 50.9%  in  2019-20.  The  estimated  percentage  of  working  persons  in  the manufacturing  industry  of  wearing  apparel  on  usual  status  during  2019-20 and 2020-21 was as follows:

| Percentage distribution of usually working persons in industry- Manufacturing of Wearing Apparel (in %)   | Percentage distribution of usually working persons in industry- Manufacturing of Wearing Apparel (in %)   | Percentage distribution of usually working persons in industry- Manufacturing of Wearing Apparel (in %)   | Percentage distribution of usually working persons in industry- Manufacturing of Wearing Apparel (in %)   |
|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Years                                                                                                     | Male                                                                                                      | Female                                                                                                    | Total                                                                                                     |
| 2019-20                                                                                                   | 1.44                                                                                                      | 3.72                                                                                                      | 2.08                                                                                                      |
| 2020-21                                                                                                   | 1.44                                                                                                      | 4.00                                                                                                      | 2.20                                                                                                      |

Source: PLFS, MoSPI

The  above  data  indicates  that  employment  in  the  manufacturing industry  of  wearing  apparel  has  increased  during  2020-21  as  compared  to 2019-20.

The  Government  of  India  has  enacted  the  Factories  Act,  1948  which provides for the occupational safety, health & welfare of workers including women  workers  working  in  the  factories  registered  under  the  said  Act. Specific provisions have been prescribed for the occupational safety of the workers at workplace including garment factories. The Factories Act, 1948 and rules framed thereunder are enforced by the respective State Governments  through  the  Chief  Inspector of Factories/ Directorate of Industrial  Safety  and  Health.  Data  relating  to  workplace  complaints  from women workers is not maintained centrally by this Ministry.

The Government has also enacted the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition  and  Redressal)  Act,  2013  (SH  Act)  with the aims to provide safe and secure work environment to  women irrespective of their work status. The aforesaid Act casts an obligation upon every employer/organizations whether in private or public sector employing 10  or  more  persons,  to  constitute  Internal  Committee  (IC)  for  receiving complaints of sexual harassment. Similarly, the State Government  is authorized  to  constitute  Local  Committee  (LC)  in  every  district  which  will receive complaints from organizations having less than 10 workers or if the complaint is against employers himself.

The  Government  has  taken  a  number  of  initiatives  in  this  regard during COVID-19 pandemic. The Government has ensured that its institutions such  as  One  Stop  Centres  (OSCs),  Universalisation  of  Women  Help  Line (WHL),  Ujjawala  Homes,  Swadhar  Greh,  Child  Care  Institutions,  Child  Line (1098), Emergency Response Support System (112) remained operational and available  for  providing  assistance  to  women  during  the  period.  During lockdown,  National  Commission  for  Women  (NCW)  also  took  measures  to assist women facing distress.

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