Indian Journal of Industrial Relations: Economics & Social Dev.

A.V. Raman ¹, L.R.K. Krishnan ²

Affiliations
1 Associate Professor (OB/HR), IIM Kashipur, IN
2 Professor (OB/HR, IR & Labor Law), VIT Business School, Chennai, IN

Abstract

This paper provides a first-hand account of the reasons underpinning the exploitation of Ready-Made Garments (RMG) workers in Bangalore by integrating their lived experiences at work and beyond with the supply chain, dysfunctional labor laws and lack of trade union mobilization. These rural Indian women migrant workers discover that it is no better than the past of poverty and caste-oppression. Their gendered experience is exacerbated by sexual and verbal abuse in an industry in which there is either extreme work pressure or no work at all, the pandemic has further worsened their poverty. Their agency is muzzled and dissent is silenced and the state, civil society trade unions and RMG exporters have singularly and cumulatively failed the woman RMG worker in Bangalore.

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L.R.K. Krishnan ¹, S. Poorani ¹

Affiliations
1 VIT Business School, Chennai., IN

Abstract

Ford India operations ended up losing roughly two billion dollars due to lack of demand and sales. The pandemic has placed the company on the back foot, unprecedented failures and affecting the livelihoods of employees. The shutdown of the company’s Indian wing will reduce up to 4,000 factory jobs, with over 2,600 regular employees and around 1,000 contract workers. The shutdown will also affect auxiliary companies that sell minor components and parts to Ford. Data were collected from workers, union leaders, union members, dealers, customers, and management to understand the issues faced by Ford. Indian operations were typically marginal and vulnerable to significant economic shifts; export was a face-saver. The study attempts to present the impact of the closure on the socio-economic conditions of workers.

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