Normal work in weaving and knitting factories of Karur came to a grinding halt on Tuesday as they joined the three-day all-India strike called by textile industry that began on Tuesday.
They were protesting against the Central government’s move to levy Goods and Services Tax (GST) on multiple production processes of the textile industry.
Besides powerloom units, almost all dyeing and packing units had also downed shutters in support of the strike called by the All India Textile GST Sangharsh Samiti. According to industry sources, more than 2,000 weaving, knitting, dyeing and packing units have taken part in the strike. Traders and merchants were also taking part in it.
S. Surendhar, secretary, Karur Weaving and Knitting Factory Owners’ Association, said that nearly 10 lakh powerlooms in the State were closed in protest against the Central government for imposing GST on multiple production processes of the industry. The GST tax proposal would badly hit the textile industry, one of the top two job providers in the country, only next to agriculture, he said.
He also said that though several representations were sent to the Centre and the Union Finance Minister, it appeared that there was no effort to consider the demands of textile traders and weavers. Mr. Surendhar added that weaving and knitting factories in Karur had stopped sending materials for outsourcing works in Namakkal, Salem and Tiruppur in support of the strike.
