A list of exploitative companies in North India, and what they do

This is a small but typical list of companies in the Gurgaon area of North India, which commit flagrant violations of existing labor laws and get away with impunity. Their practices are listed below, in the form of first-person reports from workers, gleaned from Gurgaon Workers News.

In most cases the minimum wage for industrial helpers of Rs. 3510 is not paid. If it is paid, then the working-times are way beyond the fixed 8-hours day and 6-days week. In most cases the over-time exceeds the legal restriction – maximum 50 hours in three months - and is paid at single rate, though according to the labour law it should be paid double. Hardly any workers receive the Provident Fund (PF), nor do they get ESI, medical insurance, which they are entitled to by law. In particular, textile workers are exploited by international chains: Wal Mart, Tom Taylor, H&M, Marks & Spencers, Mexx, Karstadt, Quelle, Neckermann and so on.

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Achiever Creation Worker
(Plot 501, Udyog Vihar Phase III)
Company tagline: Empowering Information.

We have to work from 9 am till 7 pm, but for ten hours work the company pays only eight.

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Allied Medical Ltd.
(Plot 76-77, Udyog Vihar Phase IV)
Company tagline: Over 25 Years of Excellence

The machine shop runs on two 12 hours shifts. The helpers get Rs. 2800, neither ESI nor PF.

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Radnik Export
(Plot 294, Udyog Vihar Phase II)
Company tagline: Just right, in style, on time
Clients: H&M, Mexx, Morgan Spencer,

Inside the factory about 1,000 workers do from 9:30 am till 10:30 pm or 2 am. We do 150 hours over-time per month. If they make us work till 2 am, they give us Rs. 15 extra for food. They make us sign papers which say that we get double over-time pay, actually we get single rate. The bosses abuse us verbally. There are thugs in the factory who threaten and beat us, and more thugs are called if necessary.

From the company web-site: Supporting your deliveries are six production factories, covering a total area of 250,000 sq. feet, with a capacity to handle 500,000 garments per month. State-of-the-art machinery is used across all functions, which include over 2000 stitching machines in India and Nepal.

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Rolex Auto
(Plot 303, Udyog Vihar Phase II)

Work start at 9 am and won’t finish before 8:30 pm, often till 2 am. They won’t even give you money for food when they make you stay till 2 am. The helpers get Rs. 2800, but they have to sign for Rs. 3510. The same with the welders, they sign for Rs. 4500, but get Rs. 3500. When an official comes for inspection the helpers have to leave the factory.

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Viva Global
(Plot 413, Udyog Vihar Phase III)
Company tagline: Quality attire from the experienced exporters.

We work from 9:30 am till 11 pm, even till 2 am. We do 200 to 250 hours over-time per month. Money is cut for PF, but when they sack you after three or three and a half months they won’t give you the form or tell you the PF number. They threaten you, abuse you verbally.

From the Viva company web-site: Viva Globals mainly supplies clients in the US and Europe

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Alankar Creations
(Plot 410, Udyog Vihar Phase III)
Company tagline: Our strength is our team of competent, committed professionals and motivated workforce.

We do up to 200 hours over-time per month, out of which 30 to 40 get cut due to “flaws”. There is a lot of verbal abuse going on - mostly from the quality control manager.

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Amisal
(Plot 229, Udyog Vihar Phase IV)

We produce leather bags, 50 of us, but we don’t get ESI or PF. The helpers’ wage is Rs. 3000, the skilled get Rs. 3800. We work from 9 am till 6:30 pm.

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Arvind Fashion
(Plot 60, Udyog Vihar Phase I)

They won’t tolerate if we are one miniuted late, but when leaving the factory they hold you back for 30 minutes unpaid. We get Rs. 2400 per month, the December wages have not been paid yet (18 of January, 2008).

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Bhurji Super-Tek Industries Ltd.
(Plot 272, Udyog Vihar Phase II)

There are 50 permanents and 150 workers are hired through two contractors. We work on two 12-hours shifts. The casuals’ over-time is paid only at single rate. The casual helpers get 2,400 Rs per month.

From company website:

Our quality products, perfect finishing competitive price range has helped us to gain the trust of our domestic and international clients. Some of our renowned and valued customers are: Bajaj Elect Ltd., Yamaha Motors India (P) Ltd, Swaraj Mazda Ltd, Water Co Ltd, Australia., Hitachi Group, Carrier AirCon, TCL, Haier.

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Break Fire / Cross Fire
(Plot 30, Udyog Vihar Phase I)

We work nine and a half hours per day. Out of 150 workers only ten get ESI or PF. The monthly wage is Rs. 3510.

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Chintoo Creation
(Plot 295, Udyog Vihar Phase II)
A textile export manufacturer.

We start working at 9 am and finish at 8 pm, sometimes we have to stay till 2 am. The helpers get 2,600 Rs. They threaten to cut two hours from your wage in case you are one minute late. Although workers work continously throughout the year, the company documents show that they have handed in their notice after six months. A legal trick to prevent them claiming status as permenents. New company cards are issued each half a year. The company cuts wages for bank holidays, although they should be paid fully. The company cuts money for ESI and PF, but we receive no benefits. The January Dearness Allowance of 25 Rs has not been paid. When worklers are sacked and they write to the PF office, the office returns the PF form saying that the company signiture has been forged.

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Classic Dials
(Plot 367, Udyog Vihar Phase II)
Classic Dials manufacturers and exports watch dials.

We start working at 8:30 am and finish at 7 pm. The helpers’ wage is 2,000 Rs, the operators get 2,700 to 3,000 Rs. Out of the 200 workers only 40 get ESI or PF.

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Coca Cola
(Plot 266 or 276, Udyog Vihar Phase II)

There are 60 workers employed through three different contractors and eight permenent operators. We work on the 3rd floor. We get 2,200 Rs, no ESI or PF.

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Dhir International
(Plot 299, Udyog Vihar Phase II)

The PF office returns the PF form sent by the company. They say it is incomplete.

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Eastern Medikit
(Plot 195 and 205, Udyog Vihar Phase I / Plot 292 and 299, Udyog Vihar Phase II)

The casuals work twelve hours per day. They get 12 Rs for each hour over-time. When hired the helpers are told that they would get 3,000 to 3,500 Rs, but actually they are paid 2,200 to 2,400 Rs. There are 200 hours monthly over-time, normally 30 to 40 hours are embezzled. The money for the over-time worked in Febuary has not been paid yet, it is end of March. Currently the company announces that the March wages will be paid no sooner than May, because a delivery was returned due to quality problems and that therefore the companies’ situation is bad. Recently there has been a wildcat strike by 2,000 casual workers at Eastern Medikit due to payment problems (see GurgaonWorkersNews no. 11).

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Flowlink
(Plot 141, Udyog Vihar Phase I)

The helpers get 2,600 Rs, neither ESI nor PF. They work 12-hours shifts.

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Gaurav International
(Plot 208/225/236, Udyog Vihar Phase I)

Gaurav International supplies, amongst others, Wal Mart in the USA. We work from 9 am till 10 pm. In the second factory on 11th of March 2008 seven male and 35 female workers were sacked. We were called to the factory three times, but up to today, 30th of May 2008, we did not receive our wages for the eleven days we worked in March. Other workers said: While going back home to the village, the payment of 10-20 days that are due, we get back only after lot of troubles and very few of us get them at all.

From the Gaurav company web-site:
With State of The Art manufacturing facilities in Udyog Vihar, Gurgaon (Near Delhi) & Head Office in New Delhi, we produce world class “NAFABS” brand of narrow fabrics for Garments, Shoes, Hosiery, Surgical, Sports, Driving Goggles & Automobile Industry. Our “NAFABS” narrow fabrics are manufactured on imported Swiss & Taiwanese Looms.

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Georgy
(Plot 366, Udyog Vihar Phase II)

The workers hired through contractor get 2,200 Rs per month, for thread cutting work. People who quit the job have a hard time getting their outstanding money. Now it is May and I have not received the wages for December (2007).

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Graffiti Export
(Plot 377, Udyog Vihar Phase II)

There are 300 skilled taylors employed in the factory, none of them get ESI or PF. The permanent helpers work ten and a half hours per day, their monthly wage is 3,510 Rs. The skilled get 14 to 16 Rs per hour. The helpers hired through contractors get 2,500 Rs, the pressmen and folding workers get 3,000 Rs. In the finishing department they work ten and a half hours, but only eight hours are paid. Every second day we have to work till 2 am. The company document shows 100 hours over-time per month (illegal!), but these hours are paid at single rate and normally ten to fifteen hours get embezzled.

From the Graffiti company web-site:
Today, graffiti forms its backbone with two factories in Bangalore and Delhi boasts of the state of art machinery and latest computer know how. The following client profile has been served on regular basis for the last ten years.
Tom Tailor (Germany), Hema (Holland) More & More (Germany), Neckermann, Karstadt, Quelle, Marc o Polo (Europe)

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Gulati Export
(Plot 397, Udyog Vihar Phase III)

We work from 9:30 am to 8 pm, but three to four times per week we have to stay till 2 am. The over-time is paid at single rate. When we are forced to stay till 2 am we get 25 Rs for food. The helpers hired through contractors get 2,400 Rs, the skilled workers get 3,000 to 3,200 Rs.

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Haryana Indication
(Plot 315, 318, 322, 325 / Udyog Vihar Phase II)

There are 2,000 workers, they work 12-hours shifts. The hour over-time is paid 11 Rs. The monthly wage is 2,700 Rs.

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Haryana Steel Worker
(Plot 318, Udyog Vihar Phase II)

We manufacture parts for Maruti Suzuki. We are 500 workers, we don’t have a weekly day off. The helpers get 2,700 Rs.

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In Style (a)
(Plot 378, Udyog Vihar Phase II)

We work from 9 am till 9:45 pm, two to three times per week till 00:45 am. Then we get 20 Rs for food. The female workers have to stay longer, as well. They are subjected to rude behaviour, the boss swears at workers. Two of the managers have become labour contractors themselves. The thread cutting workers get 2,400 Rs.

(b) (Plot 140, Udyog Vihar Phase I)

There are 100 workers hired through contractors, they get between 2,000 and 2,500 Rs, no ESI or PF. They cut threads, they do the washing and ironing work. They work from 9 am till 1:30 am. Half of the February wage has been paid on 20th of March, the other half has not been paid yet (28th of March 2008).

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Jyoti Apparels
(Plot 159, Udyog Vihar Phase I)
(Annual turn-over: 80 crore Rs / jyotiapparels@vsnl.com)

The normal shift starts at 9:15 am and finishs at 9 pm, but five days per week we have to work till 2 am. They force you to stay longer, if you won’t, they will give you the sack. There is verbal abuse going on inside the factory. If you take half a day off, because you physical condition is down, you are not paid the other half of the day that you have worked.

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Kalamkari
(Plot 283, Udyog Vihar Phase III or Plot 280, Udyog Vihar Phase II)

There are female workers hired through contractors in the thread cutting department. They have no day off and get 2,500 Rs per month. They work from 9 am till 8:45 pm.

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Kandor
(Plot 792, Udyog Vihar Phase IV)

We work twelve hours per day, our over-time payment is paid at single rate.

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Koraskom Finishing
(Plot 418, Udyog Vihar Phase III)

Since April 2008 we work one shift: from 9:30 am till 2 am. On Sundays we work till 8 pm. Over-time is paid at single rate. The helpers get 2,200 Rs, the skilled 2,800 Rs. There is verbal abuse.

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KBSH
(Plot 300, Udyog Vihar Phase II)

The machines have been removed from the factory, now they want to turn the factory into a call centre. Us 500 permanent workers have lost their jobs and the company does not fill in the PF form - they say that there has been a fire and that the documents were burnt.

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KIS Export
(Plot 885, Udyog Vihar Phase V)

There are 200 workers, they work from 9 am till 8 pm. Only 50 of them get ESI or PF. The helpers are paid 3,510 Rs.

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Kishor and Co.
(Plot 344, Udyog Vihar Phase II)

The helpers get 3,200 Rs.

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Kracha
(Plot 239, Udyog Vihar Phase I)

The 78 workers hired through contractors who do washing or thread cutting get 2,700 Rs per month, They don’t get ESI or PF. Currently there is not much work, the two daily hours over-time are paid at single rate (March). In April we worked a ten and a half hours day-shift and a twelve and a half hours night-shift. We were forced to sign the double payment of over-time, but actually only get single rate. The 300 workers on night-shift can work without being troubled too much, but the 700 to 800 day-shift workers have to put up with being screamed at and abuses by the bosses.

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Krishna Label
(Plot 162, Udyog Vihar Phase I)

There are 500 workers in the plant. We have to ask for a token in order to be allowed to go to the toilet or to take water. If you ignore this rule and just go without the token you have to pay a 500 Rs fine. If you are five minutes late at the beginning of the shift, they cut one hour from your wage. But they only allow you to go five minutes after end of shift. We start working at 9 am and finish at 7:30 pm or 8:30 pm. There is no break to take food. The helpers get 3,510 Rs, there is money cut for ESI and PF, but we don’t get the benefit. (A different worker two month later in May 2008) If they let you work three hours longer, only two and a half hours are called over-time, paid at single rate. Out of twelve months PF contribution only eight are paid out to the workers. There is verbal abuse.

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Logwell Forge
(Plot 116, Udyog Vihar Phase I)

About 20 to 25 per cent of the work-force are permanents, the rest are casual workers. Those casual workers with ITI, an official professional qualification, get 3,510 Rs, like the permanents. The working times are two 12-hours shifts, the over-time is paid at single rate. About 300 to 400 Rs from the casuals’ monthly wages gets embezzled. None of the permanent workers get more than 2,500 Rs Bonus per month. There is lot of pollution in the factory, there is no air-cleaning device, no medical check on the workers, no ESI card is given. When people get sacked, they have trouble to get their PF money. From the casual workers’ wage 525 has been cut for PF, but if you ask them what for, they won’t answer you. The company intimidates workers, there are uniformed guys to do that.

About the company:
India’s largest producer of safety and critical components for steering and suspensions assemblies. Is currently supplying as tier 1 & tier 2 supplier to all leading oems of India and also direct exports to ZF Lamforder, Jacob Vehicle Systems etc. Has comprehensive manufacturing (press and hammer forges) and heat treatment.

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Magenta
(Plot 261, Udyog Vihar Phase IV)

The helper are paid 2,600 Rs, they do not get ESI or PF.

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Mega Fashion
(Plot 202, Udyog Vihar Phase II)

There are 60 women workers working in the thread cutting department. When hired they were promised 3,500 Rs, in january they were given only 2,500 Rs. The Febuary wages have been paid late, I then left the end of March. I wanted to get my outsanding wages from the contractor, be he and his supervisor have disappeared. The Febuary and March have not been paid yet, and it is end of April now.

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Mini Center
(Plot 212, Udyog Vihar Phase I)

The helpers get 2,200 to 2,500 Rs per month, there is no day off, no ESI or PF is given.

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Modelama Export
(Plot 201, Udyog Vihar Phase I)
Production capacity of 6 million garments per year and a turn over of 60 million USD
Clients: GAP, Marks & Spencers, Laura Ashleys, Villeroy & Boch.

The official working time is from 8:30 am till 7:15 pm, but actually you have to stay till 9 or 10 pm. The helpers get 2,600 Rs, the skilled get 3,600, but they have to sign 3,900 Rs. 50 to 60 hours over-time is paid single rate. They cut money for ESI and PF, but you will only receive the benefit after seven to eight month of work.

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Murdian House
(Plot 231, Udyog Vihar Phase I)

The helpers get 2,554 Rs, the skilled 3,510 Rs. Each month we make about 90 to 100 hours over-time. Single rate payment, no ESI or PF for the 250 workers.

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Neetee Clothing
(Plot 218, Udyog Vihar Phase I)

There are more than 1,000 workers in the factory. There is neither ESI nor PF. The helpers get 3,000 Rs, the skilled 3,610 Rs. We start working at 9:30 am and finish at 8 pm, 11pm, 1 am…

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Orchid Overseas
(Plot 133, Udyog Vihar Phase I)
Clients: Calvin. K, NEXT, Paul Smith.

There are 150 to 200 casual workers in the pland, they earn 2,800 Rs, they are given neither ESI nor PF. Working-Times are from 8:30 am till 7 pm, the boss screams a lot, makes a lot of pressure.

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Poygange
(Plot 686, Udyog Vihar Phase V)

Only eight women workers are hired directly by the company, the rest, about 1,200 to 1,300 are hired through contractors. We work on two 12-hours shifts. Only after three months of employment you will get ESI and PF. The company fills in the PF form no earlier than six months after the dismissal, after you left the company.

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Premium Molding
(Plot 185, Udyog Vihar Phase I)

We work on two 12-hours shifts. The over-time is paid six and a half Rs per hour. The helpers get 3,200 Rs, the 250 workers hired through contractor get neither ESI nor PF.

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RL Khanna
(Plot 289 and 373, Udyog Vihar Phase II)

There has been a wage increase in March 2008, since then we get 200 Rs more. Now the permanents get 2,600 Rs, the helpers hired through contractors get 2,400 Rs. There are 70 to 80 hours over-time per month.

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S&R Export
(Plot 298, Udyog Vihar Phase II)

We work from 9 am till 8 pm., then often have to stay till midnight. Single rate payment, the helpers get 3,510 Rs. S&R manufacturs ornaments.

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Security Guard I
(Plot 152, 210, Udyog Vihar Phase I / Plot 324, Udyog Vihar Phase III / Plot 224, Udyog Vihar Phase IV / Plot 540, Udyog Vihar Phase V)

We work at factories of Sargan Exports, there are 25 Security Guards employed by Swift Security. We work on two 12-hours shifts, seven days per week. For 30 days we get a monthly wage of 4,450 Rs. They cut money for ESI and PF, but we get nothing. Wages are paid delayed.

Security Guard II
We are employed by Countrywide Security based in Delhi. There are more than 100 guards in Gurgaon. We work on two 12-hours shifts, there is no weekly day off. We get 4,000 Rs, neither ESI nor PF.

Security Guard III
We are employed by Kiran Security, the office is situated in Dundahera. We are 150 workers, we work twelve hours a day, every day of the week. We get 2,900 to 3,000 Rs. For several months wages have not been paid, we cannot meet the director of the company.

Security Guard IV
We work for Innovation Securycor, twelve hours per day, seven days per week. We get 4,500 Rs.

Security Guard V
We work for Sasthi Security, their office is at Hanuman Mandir. We work twelve hours shifts, no day off. We get 4,200 to 4,500 Rs.

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Shapoorji Pallonji
(Plot 243, Udyog Vihar Phase I)

In February us 40 workers from the Steering department were sacked, but they did not pay the outstanding wages, amounting to four months. When we were working and did not receive wages we nevertheless had to spent at least 300 Rs per week. We complained at the labour department.

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Spark Overseas
(Plot 166, Udyog Vihar Phase I)

The helpers are paid 3,510 Rs but wages are delayed and paid bit by bit. We often work from 9 am till 2 am. If a worker asks for a day off, due to being shattered, the boss threatens with the sack. There is verbal abuse. If a workers leave the job it is nearly impossible for them to get their outstanding wage. You have to come around eight to ten times and wait for two to three months. There are 5oo to 600 workers hired through five different contractors. There is only one latrine for all male workers, it is always over-crowded and blocked.

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Standard Gold
(Plot 235, Udyog Vihar Phase I)

Standard Gold manufacturs electronic items. The helpers’ wage is 2,350 Rs the skilled get 3,000 to 3,500 Rs. There are over 100 workers in the factory, but only 30 get ESI and PF.

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V&S
(Plot 301, Udyog Vihar Phase II)

The December wages have not been paid by end of January. They call workers casual although they work continously through the year. Hardly anyone gets PF or ESI.