India:SIMA raises question in procedure of fixing minimum wages

 

Established in 1933, with 11 members The Southern India Mills' Association(SIMA) by late Sir. R.K.Shanmugam Chettiar, the first Finance Minister of Independent India. At present 375 textile mills spread over the States of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Pondicherry and Tamilnadu are members of SIMA.A few mills in the States of Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra are also members.

SIMA member mills account for 93.06 lakh spindles and 5781 looms. Out of the total spinning capacity of 402.01 lakh spindles in the country, about 24% is represented by SIMA.

Approximately 2 Lakh workers are employed in SIMA member mills.
SIMA member mills together produced 25% of total cotton yarn manufactured in the country.

Minimum Wages for apprentices in textile mills – Writ petitions filed by the Association before Madras High Court - Hearing on 20.1.2009.

The Minimum Wage case came up for hearing today at 2.30 p.m. before Hon’ble Mr.Justice Ramasubramaniam. The Government of Tamil Nadu have filed its counter and the Court adjourned the hearing on 3rd February 2009 at 2.30 p.m.

The Southern India Mills' Association has filed an additional affidavit questioning the procedure adopted in fixing the minimum wages based on the information furnished by the Public Information Officer of the Office of the Commissioner of Labour under the Right to Information Act.