India's Tamil Nadu launches TiC to strengthen PoSH in textile sector

A collective effort to enhance workplace safety in the textile sector, the TiC brings together various actors such as brands, manufacturers, government agencies, service providers, industry associations, trade unions, civil society organisations, and research institutions, to work towards a common goal of creating a safe and empowering work environment for women in the textile industry by promoting promote zero tolerance for sexual harassment and violence in the women-dominated textile sector of Tamil Nadu.

The TiC will also work towards creating industry-standardised guidelines and codes of conduct to promote best practices and accountability. It will cover all aspects of the textile value chain, from the factory floor to the community and the policy level. The coalition is led by the department of social welfare and women’s empowerment and the department of handlooms, handicrafts, textiles and khadi of Tamil Nadu and convened by UN Women with diverse stakeholders.

“This initiative aligns with the Tamil Nadu government’s mandate. On February 21, the chief minister of Tamil Nadu formally released the state women’s policy. Additionally, the government is rolling out a new app for quarterly filing of reports. These measures demonstrate the commitment of Tamil Nadu state towards creating a safer and more inclusive work environment for women. Tamil Nadu has taken significant steps and efforts in implementing PoSH. The state currently has 5,493 Internal Complaints Committees (ICCs) in government organisations and 10,946 ICCs in private establishments,” speaking at the launch of the coalition, V Amuthavalli, IAS, commissioner of the commissionerate of social welfare, said.

“The launch of TiC, is a reflection of our commitment to the welfare and dignity of the women workers in the textile sector. We believe that by eliminating violence and sexual harassment, we can enhance the productivity and competitiveness of the industry, as well as the socio-economic development of the state,” Dharmendra Pratap Yadav, IAS, principal secretary of the department of textile, government of Tamil Nadu, said.

At the launch, Kumar Jayant, IAS, additional chief secretary of the department of labour and skill development, government of Tamil Nadu, discussed the importance of safe workplaces in increasing women’s labour force participation rates in Tamil Nadu and emphasised the commitment towards zero tolerance for sexual harassment and violence against women in the workplace, UN Women said in a press release.

“This is a groundbreaking initiative that sets an example for other industries to follow. We are not only addressing a critical issue, but also creating a culture of respect, equality, and empowerment for all women in the workforce. This is a collective effort to bring about positive change and build a safer, more inclusive industry where everyone can flourish without fear. I congratulate the government of Tamil Nadu on this innovative and holistic approach to addressing gender-based violence,” said Susan Ferguson, country representative of UN Women India, at the launch.

H&M is one of the leading apparel brands and a founding member of the coalition. “H&M Group is committed to respecting fundamental human rights of people across our value chain. We are happy to be part of TiC, which aligns with our objective of being a fair and equal company defined by our values. We hope that through this coalition, we are able to firmly cement the principle of zero tolerance to gender-based violence. This would greatly enhance the working conditions and the quality of life for the women workers in the textile and apparel industry, who are the backbone of our business,"Omang Rai Narang, country manager of H&M India, said.

“We welcome the launch of TiC, which is a timely and relevant initiative to address the issue of violence and sexual harassment in the textile sector. We are ready to cooperate with all the stakeholders and implement the necessary measures to prevent and combat such incidents in our factory. We believe that by creating a safe and respectful work environment, we can improve the morale and performance of our workers, as well as the reputation and profitability of our factory,” Ananda Krishnan, executive director, KPR Mill Ltd and member of the TiC, said.

ALCHEMPro News Desk (RR)