NEW DELHI - The Indian government has been urged to step up social protection after a new survey revealed that garment workers have been the hardest hit financially by the coronavirus pandemic.
One in five garment workers - who normally earn 10-12,000 INR (US$135-162) per month in India - said their earnings had dropped by more than 2,000 INR (US$27), according to the poll which was conducted in October.
The 'new normal' in India had seen a shift from regular salary-based employment to piece-rate work and irregular hours, according to the survey, entitled 'On Dangerous Grounds: Moving towards an institutionalisation of inequality and exploitation'.
