Garment workers end Hubballi road protest after assurance on PF rules

Hundreds of women workers at Shahi Export Garments in Rayapur blocked the Hubballi-Dharwad road on Thursday to protest new waiting periods for withdrawing provident fund and Employees’ Pension Scheme savings. The demonstration began at about 9.30 a.m. The workers sat on the road and raised slogans, bringing traffic between Hubballi and Dharwad to a standstill for several hours.

The protesters said they would continue their agitation until their concerns were addressed. Vidyagiri police and Labour Department officials tried to persuade them to leave, but the workers remained at the site until Police Commissioner Bhushan Borase and Additional Deputy Commissioner Geeta C.D. arrived for discussions.

The workers called off the protest at about 2 p.m. after officials assured them that their concerns would be conveyed to the Union government through a proposal. They then returned to work.

The protesters said employees leaving their jobs would have to wait one year to access the remaining 25% of their PF savings under the provisions they oppose. They also said workers with less than 10 years of service would face a three-year wait before withdrawing accumulated EPS funds. The Garment and Textile Workers’ Union has submitted a memorandum to the Additional Central Provident Fund Commissioner seeking removal of the waiting periods.

The union said the restrictions would particularly affect low-wage garment workers. According to the union, women make up 85% to 90% of Karnataka’s garment workforce. It said workers often rely on PF savings for medical emergencies, children’s education, rent, marriage and other household needs, and described the waiting periods as a restriction on access to their own savings.