Authorities Inspect Garment Factories Post Reuters Exposé Of Illegal Pills

After the Thomson Reuters Foundation exposed illegal pills being given to seamstresses, concerned authorities have started probing the matter. Teams of factory inspectors and health officials will check medicine stocks, toilet facilities and the availability of a qualified nurse to administer drugs in factories across Tamil Nadu state, labour department officials said on Wednesday.

This is not the first time that the pitiful situation of women workers shocked us. Another such incident came forward in April when it was found that women workers were working without a womb in Beed district of Maharashtra.

“We are going to cover all the factories. We will also be asking factories to set up sanitary pad dispensing machines and incinerators in toilets to facilitate women workers during their menstrual cycle,” said Sunil Paliwal, head of the Tamil Nadu labour department. “We are aware of the stigma around menstruation and will initiate sensitisation workshops for floor supervisors to ensure they understand the special requirements of women workers during their periods.” he added.

 Teams of factory inspectors and health officials will check medicine stocks, toilet facilities and the availability of a qualified nurse to administer drugs in factories across Tamil Nadu state, labour department officials said on Wednesday.

“These measures of the government are welcome. They will improve the living and working condition of women workers. But it should go beyond just providing sanitary pads and have a holistic approach to change things around for the good,” said Prithviraj Sinnathambi, director of Community Awareness Research Education Trust, which promotes the rights of garment workers.

A Thomson Reuters Foundation report exposed in June, the pitiful condition that the seamstresses have to go through while working in the garment industry in Tamil Nadu. While the women working in the factory couldn’t afford to lose on wages because of periods, they were given medicines, which were without any name or expiry dates. The real problem, however, came forward when many of them reported negative side effects of the medicine on their menstruation cycle. Women usually sought medicine from the factory supervisor.

Many of the women workers also reported that it took them years to realise the damage those pills were doing and that they were also not informed about the side effects. The health problems ranged from urinary tract infections to disturbed menstrual cycles and stress and anxiety.

Many of the women workers also reported that it took them years to realise the damage those pills were doing and that they were also not informed about the side effects. The health problems ranged from urinary tract infections to disturbed menstrual cycles and stress and anxiety. The pills were then given to the Thomson Reuters Foundation were unlabelled and had no information about the composition and expiry date.

In response to the report from Thomson Reuters, an official from Tamil Nadu Government said that the state is planning to launch a project that would monitor the health of its garment workers and will also collect data on how many of them suffered from work-related health problems. The Ethical Trade Initiative (ETI), a group of trade unions, charities and companies including top brands such as H&M, Mothercare, and Gap Inc. also said that they have been investigating the matter after they came to know about the pills being given to the workers.

This is not the first time that the pitiful situation of women workers shocked us. Another such incident came forward in April when it was found that women workers were working without a womb in Beed district of Maharashtra. They were subjected to Hysterectomy so that periods couldn’t affect their work.

Read More: How Maternity Leave Affects Women's Careers: Report