Thanks to COVID-19, challenges for garment manufacturers do not seem to decrease!
In the Somanahalli Industrial Area (Mandya district) of Karnataka, 14 employees of Gilwood Fashions have tested positive for COVID-19.
The factory has around 500 workers.
Looking at the criticality of the issue and as per the direction of health department, the company has announced holiday for 2 days, and will resume work on Wednesday.
These tests were conducted last week on Friday and Saturday, while results came out on Monday (7 December) wherein there was confirmation of 14 positive cases.
As per the media reports, 45 workers tested positive and staged a flash protest as they were demanding 10-day quarantine for the primary contacts of the infected persons, along with payment.
However, in discussion with Apparel Resources, Manish Dugar, Director, Gilwood Fashions, said “Mainstream media reports are wrong. We have 14 confirmed cases; it took little time to explain this to the workers as we are a compliant factory. There was no agitation. Under ESI, workers’ right will be ensured and they will not face any loss. We have told the workers that once they will submit their Covid positive, quarantine and Covid negative report, they will be paid for quarantine period as per norms.”
On being asked how COVID-19 spread in the factory despite regular check-ups, he said, “We follow all rules and none of the workers has any symptom. Just few days back, a QC who came back from an official visit, felt feverish. We immediately sent him to hospital and later initiated the COVID-19 check-up in our premises. Now, we will be more careful.”
With a turnover of more than US $ 10 million, Gilwood Fashions produces variety of menswear and kidswear. It claims to work with American Eagle Outfitters, Celio, Chaps (Ralph Lauren) and many more.