GATWU raises concerns over revised wage notification, citing exclusion of garment and textile workers from the latest uniform wage hike

The Garment and Textile Workers’ Union (GATWU) has objected to the Karnataka government’s latest minimum wage notification, stating that the revised framework excludes garment and textile workers from the immediate wage revision process.

According to the union, while the state government has approved minimum wage hikes of up to 60% for several sectors, 19 labour-intensive industries employing a large number of women workers have reportedly been left out of the revision.

In the final official notification issued on May 22, 2026, the Department of Labour stated that the revision was intended to standardise minimum wage rates across scheduled employments to ensure equal minimum wages for all classes of workers.

However, GATWU disputed the claim and stated that a special clause in the directive negatively impacts garment and textile workers. The union argued that the provision could push lakhs of workers towards economic stagnation.

The garment sector in Karnataka employs more than four lakh workers, with nearly 80% of the workforce comprising women. According to the report, a garment worker in Bengaluru currently earns a minimum wage of Rs 13,000 per month.

“The government has shown negligence toward the most vulnerable workforce,” said Pratibha R, President of GATWU.

“Our workers are already earning 30% less than labourers in other manufacturing and commercial sectors. For the last 40 years, the garment industry has consistently faced injustice during wage revisions. Excluding us from this uniform hike while raising wages for others by 60% is both inhumane and deeply unjust,” she added.

GATWU has urged the Chief Minister and the Labour Department to include the garment sector, along with the other 18 excluded industries, under the standardised uniform minimum wage revision framework.