Experts warn of massive lay-offs if GSP not renewed

14 Nov '08

2 min read

Experts have criticized the decision of the government to back track on the decision to obtain GSP+ status from the European Union. The GSP+ status among other requirements is subject to human rights compliances which will be assessed by UN human rights ambassadors and members of the European Union.

The government in a recent move had decided not to bow to the diktats of the visiting ambassadors and in the process lose the GSP status which is up for renewal in January next year.

Experts have warned that with the current global recessionary trends, losing the GSP status would bring a lot of harm to the economy and exports of apparel in particular. They have advised the government to go ahead with the visit of the ambassadors as per the recent ruling of the highest judicial court which had advised the government to give legal validity to these conventions.

The experts predict a massive closure of apparel manufacturing units leading to mass lay-offs and have said that this move on the part of the government would put the women working in garment units at a big disadvantage as they would be the first to feel the heat of a drop in garment exports.

They have predicted losing a minimum of 100,000 jobs in the clothing sector alone, not to speak of other sectors like tea and rubber if the GSP status is not renewed.

Fibre2fashion News Desk - India