Several garment workers of Orient Craft gathered outside the Sector 63 unit yesterday and protested over delay in the payment of March overtime (OT).
The situation became so tensed that police force had to be called to control the angry workers who were demanding to clear their much-delayed OT. Another cause of workers’ agitation was the non-payment of their April month wages.
Notably, many women workers were also a part of this ruckus. Officials of the labour department also reached the place and what was worrying was that social distancing was not at all followed.
The factory management has cleared OT of some of the workers, and also assured that the same will be cleared for the remaining workers soon.
A notice is posted outside the factory which says, “Management will pay overtime by 22 May. We will try our best to open this unit (D-241, Sector 63) around 1 of July as there are no orders…”
Workers, outside the factory, themselves shot videos and strongly expressed their displeasure over not being paid their overtimes, especially now when they don’t have any money.
When Apparel Resources approached the company, Pawan Arya, VP, Operations of the company told, “Every worker will get their payment soon. The company has paid full wage for the month of March to the workers. We will try our best to support the workers and the factory will open once we will have orders.”
It is imperative to note that out of the 26 units of Orient Craft, few of them including the ones in Noida and Ranchi are still not closed.
Overtime has always been a national concern in the Indian apparel industry majorly because of urgent orders, improper planning and less productivity and efficiency.
