Not paid since lockdown, claim tannery workers

These tanneries employ more than 1.10 lakh workers, a majority of whom are women.

The sources said that despite the State and the Central governments ordering companies not to cut workers’ wages, the tannery workers were paid only till March 24, when the lockdown was announced.

“After that they have no work and no money. What adds to their grief is that there is nobody willing to lend them money even on interest,” says J Ruban, general secretary the Tamil Nadu Trade Union Centre in the district.

Some workers, who spoke on condition of anonymity, lamented “we received what the State government provided us through fair price shops and the Rs 1,000 cash. But, with all products, including vegetables being sold at inflated prices, the cash did not last long. When we approach neighbours for financial help, they plead helplessness saying “how can we help you, when we ourselves have no money for our daily expenses?’” In Vaniyambadi, local money lenders are loath to lend money even at highly-inflated interest rates as they know that even if the lockdown is lifted, it will take at least three more months for the leather industry to regain normalcy as “most units are dependent on orders from Italy and other European countries, which have been the most affected by the present pandemic,” a money lender seeking anonymity added.

“The plight is worse for those living in towns as they have nobody to fall back on whereas those living in outlying villages can at least raise vegetables to keep the wolf from the door,” the sources added.

When Ruban contacted the tannery owners and sought help based on workers’ plight, he was asked why nobody considered the plight of tannery owners, who themselves are cash-strapped now.

Tirupattur Collector MP Sivan Arul, when contacted, said he would seek details of such affected tannery workers immediately and set in motion ways to help them tide over this crisis.