Nuh flare-up: Post exodus, Gurugram industry woos migrants with bonus, pay hike

Sumedha Sharma

Gurugram, August 10

With the exodus of migrants leading to a 40 per cent workforce crunch in Gurugram industries, units are offering special bonus to them to return. Hit by the recent communal clashes in Gurugram, Muslim migrants, who constitute over 70 per cent of the industrial workforce of the city, have either left or are hiding in homes. This has dealt a major blow to the industry, especially in areas like Manesar, Khandsa, Sohna and Pataudi. The garment industry comprising nearly 1,500 units is the worst hit.

Editorial: Pak role in Nuh flare-up

Garment factories hit hard

• Following communal clashes, Muslim migrants, who constitute over 70% of the industrial workforce in Gurugram, have left or are in hiding
• These clashes dealt a major blow to the industry, especially in Manesar, Khandsa, Sohna and Pataudi; the garment industry is the worst hit

With the confidence-building initiatives of the local administration yet to bear results, industrial units are reaching out to workers by offering them special bonus and security assurances to return to work.

“The garment units in Khandsa and Manesar are the worst hit by the exodus. This is a lean month but production will start in full swing next month and we will have to get workforce. A majority of the workers are from a particular community, who are irreplaceable. Besides bonus, the industry is also offering a raise to them to report back for work. If the workers don’t return, we will be hit in a big way,” said Animesh Saxena of the Garment Exporters Association. Gurugram has around 3,000 registered industrial units. While industries situated near the Delhi border such as those in Udyog Vihar haven’t been affected much as their workforce comprises local residents, other units have been impacted majorly.

“It’s a Covid-like situation for us again. The reputation of Gurugram as an investment hub has taken a hit,” GN Mangla, president, Gurugram Industrial Association, said.

Meanwhile, the Haryana chapter of the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) has sought the intervention of industrial associations to stop the exodus of Muslim workers from the Manesar area following the recent communal clashes in the region.