Mangaluru: MLC Ivan D’Souza said on Wednesday, that the government should set up garment factories to provide alternative jobs for beedi workers as their livelihood is at risk.

Adressing mediapersons at the district Congress office, he said, “The government should focus on setting up garment factories in Dakshina Kannada and Udupi. There are nearly 4 lakh beedi workers in DK and Udupi out of which 98% of them are women. If one garment factory is set up in each taluk, then nearly 40000 people will get employment,” he said.

He further said that these garment factories should be formed under public and private partnership model, so that most of the people can get benefit from it.

Speaking about labour policy he said that, the government has provided a lot of facilities to the unorganised workers, but only 4 per cent of the workers are receiving benefits of these facilities. The government’s programme is not reaching the workers effectively. To solve this issue, the government should implement a single labour policy in all the states.

On the occasion of International Workers’ Day on May 1, D K Labour Union is celebrating Workers’ Day at Ravindra Kala Bhavana, Mangaluru University at 10 am. District in-charge Minister B Ramanatha Rai, Health Minister U T Khader and Fishery and Sports Minister Abhaychandra Jain will take part in this programme.

DK Congress Interim President Ibrahim Kodijal, district Labour Union President Lokesh Hegde Puttur and others were present.