VIRUDHUNAGAR: It's no surprise that the calendar industry workers get enwrapped in New Year spirit earlier than others. But some seem to have gotten carried away and taken to the bottle much ahead of New Year's Eve. The calendar manufacturers in Sivakasi attribute the slight slump in production this year to the workers' alleged boozing during duty hours. The workers, however, said the manufacturers are making a mountain out of a molehill. "A few men working long hours may have had a drink or two. But it is not a regular practice," one of the workers said.
The calendar manufacturers said they are under immense pressure to complete the 25% pending orders in addition to the huge number of last-minute orders expected to reach them shortly, within less than a month. They said that on top of staff shortage, the alleged alcohol consumption among existing workers during the daytime has led to production setbacks.
Housing around 200 calendar manufacturing units, Sivakasi accounts for up to 85% of calendars in the state. Over one lakh labourers depend on the industry. Tamil Nadu Calendar Manufacturers Association Secretary K Jeyasankar said over 15 processes, including pre-designing, plate-making, printing, lamination, scoring, polishing, and binding, are involved in the production of a single high-quality daily calendar model, taking 20-30 days to complete.
"Despite releasing the calendar albums in August, most customers place orders only by November, leaving the manufacturers with a tight deadline. Furthermore, the labour shortage exacerbates each passing year. Unlike automated corporate firms, MSME industries like calendar manufacturing units significantly rely on the availability of labourers. We have already received 80% of the order volume that we expected this year. About three-fourths of these orders have been completed, which is a slight slump in the production figures compared to last time. On top of that, we expect a good number of last-minute orders shortly," he said.
On the condition of anonymity, several owners of calendar manufacturing units claimed that the increased consumption of alcohol among workers has affected production. "Workers who opt for night shifts bring liquor bottles to the workplace. The morning shift workers return in a tipsy state after their lunch break. Since working with machinery in an inebriated state poses a risk to workers' lives, we have no other option but to make them leave the unit for the day," a calendar manufacturer in Sivakasi said.
The manufacturer also pointed out that holding talks with the employees to restrict alcohol consumption proved a futile exercise. To address this issue, the All Entrepreneurs Federation, representing the TN MSME Industry has urged the state government to open the Tasmac outlets only during the evening hours.
Speaking to TNIE, A Ganesan (53), a calendar manufacturing unit worker said only a few workers consume alcohol during break time. "We are paid just Rs 600 per day and only during the peak season, do we have a chance of working overtime and earning up to an extra Rs 100 per hour. Due to financial hardships, some labourers take up work for long hours and might feel the need to consume alcohol in between," he said.
Seconding Ganesan's statement, a 40-year-old woman employee from Pallapatti panchayat said that though some men work after consuming alcohol, this has not led to any issues in the workplace so far. "None of the permanent employees who have to operate the machinery hit the bottle during work," she said.
Meanwhile, employees at a leading calendar manufacturing unit near Keelathiruthangal stoutly denied the manufacturers' allegations. "It may be happening in small-scale units that have a limited number of workers, but not at leading firms. "There are supervisors at our units and no one can sneak liquor bottles to the workplace under their noses. Also, no one dares to drink during the break owing to fear of losing the job," said one of the workers.