Chennai, Jun 7 (IANS): Tamil Nadu's Tirupur, the export hub of south India, is seeing work resume in export units and garment companies after the state government gave permission to operate industrial units, with all necessary Covid-19 protocols in place.

The Tamil Nadu government has allowed those companies which have export units, orders for export, or vendor units providing inputs to such exports, to resume function with 10 per cent per cent of the workforce for carrying out export-related works.

Mainly samples are being sent from these units during this period as the number of workers is far too less.

Tirupur Exporters Association has welcomed the move.

Talking to IANS, Association President, Raja Shanmugham said: "Yes, this is a welcome move. Ours is a business that caters to western markets and is a multi-seasonal business. Before the season commences, we have to send the samples to the clients and get approvals and once we get approvals, it requires 4 to 5 months to deliver the order."

"If we don't send the samples to clients now and get approvals, the clients would directly approach our competitors in Vietnam, Bangladesh and other countries are not locked down now. During the first wave of the pandemic, it was a global shut down and we were in the same boat as other countries, but now the situation is different and most of the countries are open and hence, we have to work now. We thank the government of Tamil Nadu in this regard," he added.

The mood in the Tirupur garment industry is buoyant even though there is a minimal workforce allowed. However, exporters have welcomed the decision.

Majestic Krishnan of Majestic Exporters told IANS: "Even though a small workforce is allowed, at least we are able to make the samples and send them across to our European clients. We thank the state government for this."

The South Indian Spinners Association have also requested Chief Minister M.K. Stalin to allow them to operate spinning mills.

In the letter, the Association told the Chief Minister that the workers were staying in their premises and that the spinning mill owners were providing accommodation, food, and all other facilities to the workers. However the second wave of the pandemic led to uncertainty after the closing down of these industrial units and guest workers have started leaving, it said, requesting the Chief Minister and the state government to allow them to reopen.