Garment units to re-open today as Karnataka shifts gear on economic activity

Bengaluru: Garments with apparel export commitments will re-open on Monday as Karnataka’s industrial sector slowly picks up momentum amid challenges like shortage of labour and lack of public transport.

The government has allowed garment units, among the largest employers in Bengaluru, to operate with one third of their workforce. They should have, however, been registered with apparel export promotion council (AEPC). The Industries department is also working with them to get them to make face-masks in large numbers as it is now mandatory for members of public to use masks, but not surgical masks.

“We are trying to re-purpose garments, electronic and automobile units to see that they churn out healthcare related stuff such as masks, PPE gears and ventilators to ease the supply issues,” Gaurav Gupta, Principal Secretary, Industries department, told ET.

A number of restrictions have already been removed for industries across green and orange districts, and in rural areas of red zones too. Earlier they needed police passes, but now even that requirement has been removed. The employees can commute to work and back with their ID cards, Gupta said.

Chief Secretary TM Vijay Bhaskar had, last week, facilitated seamless inter-district movements declaring the districts of Bengaluru Urban, Bengaluru Rural, Ramanagara, Kolar and Chikkaballapur as one unit.

Many industries are still grappling with inadequate supply of raw materials to run their units as they are stuck in ports in Covid-19 cities such as Mumbai. There is also the issue of getting workers back to Bengaluru as many have returned to their native places within Karnataka, and have not been able to return for want of a transportation. “We are currently working to resolve these issues,” Gupta said.

“I have been interacting with industries and their associations almost on a daily basis to understand their problems, clarify doubts, and motivate them to deliver their best under the circumstances,” the Principal Secretary, Industries, said.

Industries Minister Jagadish Shettar, meanwhile, has written to the Centre requesting for a financial package from ministries such as Finance and Industries to help the struggling industrial sector. He has asked for working capital loan to industries under the existing lines of credit and collateral to help them tide over the short-term liquidity crisis.

Several industries, official sources said, have been unable to pay April salaries to employees as the entire month was lost under a Covid-19 lock-down. An intervention now will help struggling industries pay salaries and other dues to suppliers.

Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa has already allowed the MSME units deferred payment of fixed charges of electricity by two months easing their pain to some extent.