Recently, the Indian garment sector has witnessed a growth in exports, because of rising demand from all main markets together with the USA and the European Union. With massive orders pouring in, clothes have change into one of many high rising export sectors within the nation. Due to its top quality clothes, India has change into one of many most well-liked sourcing locations for a number of manufacturers similar to Zara, H&M, Mango, Tommy Hilfiger, and many others. Nonetheless, the nation’s rigid labor legal guidelines and dear credit score are proving to be main roadblocks for the sector, particularly with regards to exports.Stringent Labor Legal guidelines Affecting InvestorsThe stringent labor legal guidelines prevailing within the nation have created nice apprehension amongst garment producers. They imagine that the larger they develop, the harder it’s to run a enterprise. It’s to be famous that garment is among the most labor intensive sectors within the nation after agriculture. Therefore, the impression is extra on this phase than the others resulting from strict labor legal guidelines. Greater than eight million employees are employed by the sector, out of which 70% are girls. Typically firms are closed with out prior approval from authorities, which deprive employees of their statutory dues.
Take for instance the Factories Act of 1948. This act restricts even a prepared employee to work past 48 hours in per week. This not solely reduces manufacturing capability, but additionally his earnings. India’s loss is its opponents’ achieve. Although labor prices are larger in China, but its versatile labor guidelines, decrease credit score prices, sponsored energy and higher infrastructure has propelled its garment sector and exports. The Bangladesh authorities’s bilateral treaties with European nations and different international locations of the world have enabled patrons to import clothes from the nation with none import responsibility.Excessive Credit score Prices Hurting IndiaHigher credit score prices are additionally hurting garment exports from India. Whereas credit score value in India hovers round 11 to 12%, the identical is round three to five% in rival nations. Scarcity of electrical energy in states like Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh, the place many garment exporting firms are situated are additionally hurting these firms. In these states, excessive labor prices have decreased manufacturing competitiveness to a big extent.The Means Ahead & Challenges
Nonetheless, just lately garment exports have began to choose up, aided by a number of exterior elements. In line with knowledge from the Attire Export Promotion Council, India’s garment exports to the EU has elevated by 5.9% on year-on-year foundation throughout January-Might 2013, whereas these of Bangladesh and China have declined by 1.eight% and 9.7% respectively throughout the identical interval. Yuan’s rise in opposition to the greenback and labor unrest in Bangladesh has labored in India’s favor. Importers now want to purchase from India, somewhat than Bangladesh due to security associated points and the general stability that India gives.The Authorities of India has taken initiatives to draw funding within the sector. Nonetheless, India should work out a strategy to make its labor guidelines extra versatile to supply a aggressive edge to the sector.