New Delhi, June 20 (KNN) With a view to study the long-pending issues plaguing garment workers of Karnataka, including draft notification of minimum wages, the Chief Minister of Karnataka H.D. Kumaraswamy directed officials to set up a committee involving labor department officials, textile manufacturers, central trade unions and garment workers.

Chief Minster said that the committee should come out with its report in a time-bound manner so that minimum wages of garment workers could be notified by the year-end.

He made the above remarks at a meeting with representatives of Garment and Textile Workers’ Union and All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC) and Textile Manufacturers.

The long pending demand of garment workers regarding revision of minimum wages went in vain when the labor department issued draft notification proposing doubling of minimum wages withdrew by the erstwhile Siddaramaiah-led government.

Raising the concerns, department said the industry management had objected to the revision on the grounds that minimum wages in Karnataka were higher than that in other States and doubling it would have an adverse impact on an industry that is already facing tough competition internationally.

In the meeting with the representatives of the concerned associations, the Chief Minister said it is not possible to restore the withdrawn notification but he assured the members that based on the new committee’s report, minimum wages will be notified by this year-end.