Fri Apr 18 12:35:21 UTC 2025: ## Coimbatore Powerloom Workers Continue Indefinite Strike for Wage Hike
**COIMBATORE, April 18, 2025** – Over 1.5 lakh powerloom units in Coimbatore and Tiruppur districts remain on indefinite strike, with 12 weavers currently undertaking a fast, demanding a significant wage increase. The strike, which began March 19th and escalated to an indefinite fast on April 15th, has brought production to a standstill for a month.
The job working powerloom unit owners claim that textile manufacturers are still paying wages agreed upon in 2014, despite significant increases in input costs. While manufacturers have offered a 7% wage hike based on a 2022 settlement, the workers are seeking a more substantial increase.
E.M. Bhoopathi, president of the Coimbatore Tiruppur district job working powerloom unit owners’ association, reports that the issue has been raised in the Tamil Nadu Assembly by opposition leader Edappadi K. Palaniswami and other political leaders. Minister for Handlooms and Textiles R. Gandhi has reportedly stated that the issue will be resolved soon, but the workers are yet to be contacted for negotiations. Bhoopathi expressed uncertainty about whether any talks are currently underway between the manufacturers and the government. The workers await a call for discussions to resolve the ongoing dispute.
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