Safety match units closed due to lorry strike

Production remained unaffected in the first few days of the lorry stir, which commenced on July 20, as the matchmaking units had stored raw material such as potassium chlorate, phosphorus, wooden splints and wax. With that stock fast dwindling, many manufacturers were hoping that lorries would resume plying soon. However, with the strike continuing, several units have wound up production. 

According to S Palanikumar, proprietor of a Sattur based match factory, a 70 per cent fall in production has been recorded in the days following the strike. Virudhunagar district has around 600 units, including 100 in Sattur. Almost half of the factories have been shut and the rest are on the verge of closure if the strike continues, he said. Speaking to DTNext , M Paramasivam, president, National Small Match Manufacturers Association, Kovilpatti, said there were around 300 match factories and 1,500 ancillary units in these parts of Tamil Nadu, mostly located in Kovilpatti, Sattur, Sivakasi and Virudhunagar. The closure of units has led to workers being rendered jobless, he said. 

J Devadoss, secretary, South India Match Manufacturers Association, Kovilpatti, said a few factories are operational despite the strike considering the livelihood of workers. However, the situation might soon get worse as the pile-up of manufactured match bundles in the godowns continue to rise. “Only when the commodity reaches the market and is sold, we can earn an income and pay wages to workers. 

Moreover, godowns have outstripped its capacity to hold finished goods. This unhealthy situation has prompted the manufacturers to close down the factories,” said D Krishnamurthy, an owner of another unit. “We were affected by demonetisation and roll out of GST. Now, the industry has suffered yet another blow following the lorry strike,” he lamented. The government authorities should hold talks with lorry owners and settle the issue amicably, he said.