Firms upset over workers crackdown

The $2 billion garment export industry, with a work force of 3.5 lakh, is feeling the heat of the police crackdown on migrant labourers and maids in the city.

The $2 billion garment export industry, with a work force of 3.5 lakh, is feeling the heat of the police crackdown on migrant labourers and maids in the city.

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Major garment exporters, who met on Wednesday, under the banner of Apparel Export Promotion Council (AEPC), said about one lakh workers have been forced to leave the city resulting in a major dip in production.

The garments were to be exported to USA, Europe and far eastern countries. "As 25-30 per cent of workers have either resigned or left Gurgaon because of ongoing drive, our garment production has been severely hit.

Our buyers abroad have threatened us either to meet the deadline of Christmas or they would cancel the orders," said Sudhir Dhingra, the CMD, Orient Crafts, an export house with 18,000 workers. Other export houses and buying houses that participated in the meeting included Pearl Global, Matrix Clothing, Li & Fung (India), Impulse, Lyra Industrials and Boutique International.

Rajiv Suri, chairman, Impulse International, said the police had been creating havoc on the industry. "The police department has failed to understand the fact that it is going to damage the garment exports in the city in a big way. They should desist from such tactics that is driving huge number of workforce out of the work and putting industry in jeopardy," Suri said.