Erode Handloom Weavers Organize Triple Protests Over Stagnant Wages and Policy Erosion
The AITUC-affiliated Handloom Weavers’ Union will hold simultaneous demonstrations across Erode district to demand pension hikes and stricter enforcement of industry protections. Labor leaders are calling for urgent state intervention to combat the unlawful encroachment of powerloom products.
Coordinated Demonstrations Slated for Three Erode Hubs
Handloom workers in Erode district are intensifying their campaign for economic survival and industry integrity. On July 30, members of the Handloom Weavers’ Union, an affiliate of the All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC), will stage simultaneous protests in Bhavani, Sivagiri, and Chennimalai. This mobilization follows a district-level conference held in Sivagiri on July 25, where union leadership finalized a series of demands aimed at the Tamil Nadu state government.
Fiscal Demands and Pension Reform
At the center of the dispute is the widening gap between earnings and the current cost of living. The union is calling for an immediate revision of basic wages and dearness allowances. Key financial resolutions include:
- Increasing the monthly pension for weavers over age 60 from ₹1,200 to ₹6,000.
- Enhancing welfare assistance distributed through the Tamil Nadu Handloom Workers’ Welfare Board.
- Reducing the market price of essential raw materials.
- Increasing the rebate on handloom textiles to encourage consumer sales.
Beyond direct payments, the conference delegates demanded the prompt release of outstanding rebate subsidies owed to handloom cooperative societies and the regularization of workers currently on consolidated pay.
Legislative Protections and Governance
Union leaders, including newly elected president S. Ponnusamy and general secretary M. Varadharajan, emphasized the need for structural transparency. The organization is seeking democratic elections within cooperative societies and the prioritization of government procurement from handloom cooperatives. A significant point of contention remains the illicit encroachment of powerlooms into protected markets. The union demands strict enforcement of the Handloom Reservation Act to halt the production of traditional handloom varieties on mechanized powerlooms and to end the deceptive sale of powerloom fabrics under handloom labeling.
Addressing the delegates, AITUC State secretary S. Chinnasamy framed the upcoming July 30 actions as a vital response to the call from the Tamil Nadu Handloom Weavers’ Federation to protect the sector's unique heritage and labor rights.
Source: The Hindu — Cities
