Unpaid salaries prompt Ranchi garment workers protest as Orient Craft cites US tariffs

More than a thousand workers, most of them women, staged a protest outside a garment export factory gate in Ranchi on Tuesday. The workers said wages were pending for months. Officials said the gathering blocked the Khelgaon-Tatisilway Road and affected traffic for about four hours.

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Workers said the delays disrupted daily life and household budgets. Jyoti Devi alleged wages for February and March were not paid. "In April, I got only Rs 1,500 in two instalments.\" Jyoti Devi also alleged, \"When we approached the management regarding the payment, they gave only assurances and are actually doing nothing,\"

Ranchi garment workers protest over pending salaries

Komal Kumari, a worker from Bihar’s Samastipur district, said salary had not been paid for two months. Komal Kumari said household expenses were becoming difficult to handle. Another worker, Soni Devi, said payment delays over the last three months created severe hardship for families.

Soni Devi has worked as an operator in the production department since 2018. Soni Devi said rising costs were increasing pressure at home. \"Our household expenses are going up, and payment of tuition fees for the children is getting delayed,\" Soni Devi said.

Ranchi garment workers protest as management cites US tariffs

Orient Craft Fashion Industries Ltd’s HR Manager Ravi Bhushan accepted that salaries were due. Ravi Bhushan said the plant employed around 2,400 female workers. Ravi Bhushan said the company aimed to clear dues soon. \"Export of garments has been drastically hampered due to tariffs imposed by the US,\" Ravi Bhushan said.

Ravi Bhushan said senior officials would visit the factory on Wednesday. \"I have informed the higher authorities, and they will come here on Wednesday to hold a meeting with the workers.\" Ravi Bhushan also said, \"The company is facing financial pressure due to the global crisis.\"

Ranchi garment workers protest: labour officials hold talks

Ranchi’s Deputy Labour Commissioner Avinash Krishna said discussions were held with company representatives. \"The management has assured us that they will settle the payment of the last two months by Monday.\" Avinash Krishna added that a meeting was planned for Wednesday to discuss salary issues.

Khelgaon police station officer-in-charge Abhishek Rai said the protest ended after the management gave assurances. Abhishek Rai said workers withdrew the demonstration once they were told pending salaries would be paid. The incident came days after reports of worker unrest in Noida’s industrial area in Uttar Pradesh.

With inputs from PTI