Maid in India

Maid in India
Wages
New workers start as trainees. Contrary to the widespread practice in Tamil Nadu of hiring workers
as apprentices for a period of three years, Eastman has shortened the training period. The traineeperiod
for new workers is now one to two months.
Wages are paid in cash or through bank accounts. Eastman informed SOMO and ICN that spinning
mill workers are paid on a monthly basis and that garment workers are paid on a weekly basis.
Workers are either employed under the daily-wage system (fixed wages per 8 hour shift) or under a
piece rate system. The interviewed workers do not have a complete understanding about the
composition of their wages.
Some workers are employed via ‘Pariyur Amman Manpower Resources’. These workers receive
their wages through this labour agency. Costs for accommodation are deducted from the salary as
well as costs for using the washing machine. Eastman informed SOMO and ICN that it has stopped
working with Pariyur Amman Man Power Resources as of January 2012.
Daily wages (based on 8 hour shifts) at the Eastman’s garmenting units in Perundurai and Erode
vary from Rs. 105 (€1.61) for checking workers to Rs. 169 (€2.59) for tailors. Daily wages at
Eastman’s spinning units in Dindigul range from Rs. 171 (€2.62) to Rs. 189 (€2.90 based on
experience and function. Compared to other manufacturers Eastman pays reasonable wages.
In its response to SOMO and ICN, Eastman writes that wages are paid in accordance with the
Wages Act. As said before, there is only a legal minimum wage for apprentices in spinning mills.
There is no minimum wage in force for regular spinning mill workers or for garment workers.
Working hours and overtime
Working hours for garment workers in Eastman’s Erode and Tirupur units are as follows. During
peak season, from August to March, workers often work a full day and night shift, seven days a
week. During peak season it also occurs that workers have to work 24 hours continuously. During
these 24-hour shifts, workers get a total of 2 hours break. Interviewed workers also state that they
are often woken up in the middle of the night to go to work. In mid-season (approximately two
months per year), working days of 12 hours are commonplace. Workers often have to work on
Sundays as well during this season. In the low season (approximately two months per year)
garment workers work eight hours a day.
Refusing overtime is not possible. Buses will not leave to bring the workers to the hostel until the
work is completed. Buses will go to the hostel and pick workers up if the management announces
that they have to work on Sunday. Overtime hours are not paid out according to local law (double
rate for overtime hours).
Spinning mill workers at Eastman’s spinning mills in Dindigul usually work eight hours a day.
Overtime is less frequent in these units.
In its response to SOMO and ICN, Eastman claims that all workers only work for mandated working
hours and that overtime is performed ‘subject to the willingness of the workers’. Eastman further
claims that double wages are paid for overtime hours.
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