A proposed revision to raise Karnataka’s minimum wage to ₹20,000 reignites the debate on what truly constitutes a fair, need-based wage. Drawing from decades of legal and policy frameworks, this article examines how far current wages—especially in the state’s garment sector—fall short of established norms, and why it’s time to bridge the gap between principle and practice.
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Cividep’s 2024 Annual Report highlights a year of deepening worker engagement, advocacy, and digital empowerment. From social media training for electronics sector workers in Tamil Nadu to large-scale community events and policy-driven research, the report showcases efforts to amplify worker voices, promote fair labour practices, and drive systemic change. As India’s manufacturing sector grows, Cividep continues to bridge the gap between economic progress and worker realities, ensuring access to knowledge, networks, and advocacy for better working conditions.
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Cividep India, now in its 24th year, continues to champion ethical labour practices and improved working conditions across global supply chains. In 2024, the organisation marked significant milestones, including the launch of the Workers’ Observatory, a platform amplifying worker voices, and the release of The Home & The World of Work, a report on gender and labour in Karnataka’s apparel industry. With initiatives spanning garment, electronics, and leather sectors, Cividep combines research, advocacy, and community engagement to address issues like low wages, exploitative conditions, and human rights risks. Looking ahead, Cividep remains committed to driving meaningful change for workers across industries.
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In 2024, stories from women workers revealed the harsh realities of their workplaces, from exploitation and fear to resilience and solidarity. Cividep India, working with thousands of low-wage women workers across garments, leather, electronics, and plantations, brought these voices to light. Amid challenges like production torture, shopfloor abuse, and financial precarity, workers are finding their voices, advocating for fair treatment, and building collective strength. These powerful accounts highlight the urgent need for systemic change and celebrate moments of hope and resistance.
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Cividep recently launched The Home & The World Of Work report and a documentary that capture the harsh realities of Karnataka’s women garment workers at the Bangalore International Centre. The report, based on interviews with 184 women garment workers over two years, paints a disturbing picture of the industry’s practices.
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