To increase productivity of women employees, textile industries in Gujarat are taking slew of measures which included housing facilities, crèches for kids etc. to keep women employees on their roll. This is because of increase of women employees in textile sector in the state by 30 per cent in last five years, double the national average of 15 per cent.
The industry experts believe that better work environment, consistent income and several incentives by employers are attracting women into textile industry, especially in garment and fabric sections.
Ahmedabad-based Arvind Ltd is planning to set up a dormitory-based manufacturing facility in its upcoming apparel park in Dehgam in a bid to scale up manufacturing and increase productivity. The facility will house around 10,000 women who will be employed in the manufacturing facility. The company also provides creches and other incentives to women employees. In last five years, number of women employees in Arvind Ltd has increased by more than 1300.
The Udyog Bharti Mandal in Gondal is also constructing houses nearby its facility to ensure that both men and women of the family can stay and work together. “Around 80 per cent of the women are employed in garment sector followed by fabric and other sectors in the industry. Many companies and textile units in Saurashtra region of the state are building facilities to house their employees with an aim to reduce absenteeism and help women focus on job,” Chandan Chatterjee, director, Centre for Entrepreneurship Development, Gujarat said.
According to rough estimates, close to 90 lakh people are working in textile industry in Gujarat, of which, 45 to 50 lakh are women.
