MUMBAI: The special package for the made ups sector approved by the Union Cabinet may help in generating large scale direct and indirect employment of up to 11 lakh people over the next three years in this sector, an industry body has said.

“The much-awaited package for the made ups sector approved by the Union Cabinet with the primary objective of creating large scale direct and indirect employment to employ upto 11 lakh persons over the next three years in this sector,” the Cotton Textiles Export Promotion Council (TEXPROCIL) Chairman Ujwal Lahoti said here.

Welcoming the package, Lahoti said, “This a positive move by the Government which will give a big boost to exports of made ups and also generate employment opportunities.” Lahoti pointed out that this announcement has come as a relief to exporters of made ups who are passing through a difficult phase as their products face duty disadvantage in the main market of EU as compared to products from competing countries on account of preferential tariffs given to some of them. The package includes similar measures given to apparels such as additional 10 per cent subsidy under Technology Upgradation Fund Scheme (TUFS), additional contribution under Pradhan Mantri Rozgar Protsahan Yojana (PMRPY) and the Rebate of State Levies (ROSL). The made ups sector generates employment opportunities for women and in rural areas and the Government has recognised this potential while announcing the measures, he said. The permissible overtime has been increased upto 100 hours per quarter and the employees’ contribution to EPF has been made optional for employees earning less than Rs 15,000 per month. According to Lahoti, these measures will go a long way in bringing about labour reforms in the sector besides enhancing the benefits to the workers. — PTI