TIRUPUR: Shortage of labour has hit exports of knitwear in Tirupur. At a time when the industry is witnessing a rapid growth with the opening up of the quota-free textiles regime, industry sources feel that shortage of labour has come in the way of growth.

While unemployment problem remains a cause for concern in all other parts of the state, Tirupur witnesses a huge shortage of labour throughout the year.

"We face 20 - 30 per cent of shortage of labour. As the exports go up the problem too aggravates. Of the two lakh workers in Tirupur, half of them do not have quality housing. Unless housing facility is established it is difficult to lure workers," says A. Sakthivel, president of the Tirupur Exporters' Association.

Lack of proper housing, poor lifestyle owing to air pollution, absence of infrastructure and inconsistent work scenario as a seasonal business are some of the reasons, entrepreneurs say, for the shortage of labour. Many labourers left Tirupur after working here for a couple of years because of various reasons.

Daily wages

M. Chandran, general secretary of CITU Baniyan Thozhilar Sangam, says most of the workers are on daily wages and what they earn is not enough to make both ends meet.

"Even after working 10 - 12 hours a day most of the workers live in debt and they hardly save,'' Chandran says.

Thousands of families live in single bedroom houses (called line houses) that have just 100 square feet space.

The rent of these 10 ft x 10 ft house is around Rs.1,000 a month. "The exorbitant house rent and high cost of living are the twin problems that haunt the workers," he said.

Many entrepreneurs feel that a massive housing scheme for the poor workers is the need of the hour.

As the land cost has skyrocketed it is not easy for a labourer to own a house. Chandran said the Government on its own or by helping the industrialists should come forward to construct at least 30,000 low cost houses.

The companies could invest for this and in turn they could collect it from the workers.

Candidates from both rival camps - Communist Party of India (Marxist) and Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam - have promised that they will work hard to achieve the goal.

A.M. Karthikeyan of Stallion Garments, who plans to construct 400 houses for workers, suggests that capital subsidy or interest incentive be given to the companies to take up housing projects as it was offered already for factory buildings under the Technology Upgradation Fund Scheme.

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