TIRUPUR: Wage agreement negotiations between manufacturers and trade unions in Tirupur’s hosiery sector concluded smoothly on Tuesday, with both sides agreeing to a 33% wage hike for workers over the next four years.Workers will receive a monthly allowance of Rs 2,500 at an index level of 20,000 points, along with an additional 15.5 paise for every point increase. A daily travel allowance of Rs 30 will be provided for each working day while Rs 60 will be given for night shift duties.The agreement also includes financial assistance of Rs 21,500 to the family of a worker in case of death during service, subject to a minimum of six months of employment.The new wage pact will be in force from March 17, 2026, to March 16, 2030, with all revised benefits coming into effect immediately.As per industry practice, wage agreements are renegotiated once in every four years through joint discussions between manufacturers’ associations and trade unions. Following the expiry of the previous agreement signed in September 2021, which ended in September 2025, a joint committee was formed to finalise a new pact.The committee held eight rounds of talks over the past five months, with the ninth and final round taking place on March 17, 2026, where the agreement was sealed.Representatives from six manufacturers’ bodies — South India Hosiery Manufacturers’ Association (SIHMA), Tirupur Exporters’ Association (TEA), Knit Cloth Manufacturers’ Association (KNITCMA), Tirupur Export Knitwear Manufacturers Association (TEKMA), Tirupur Exporters and Manufacturers Association (TEAMA), and South Indian Imported Machine Knitters Association (SIIMKA) — participated in the meeting.Office-bearers from nine trade unions, including LPF, INTUC, MLF, CITU, HMS, AITUC, BMS, ATP and DTMS, were present. Under the agreement, wages will be increased by a total of 33% between 2026 and 2030, to be implemented in phases of 18%, 5%, 5%, and 5% each year.Joint committee chairman and TEA president K M Subramanian said the agreement was finalised keeping in mind both worker welfare and the growth of the industry.
