A new reporting series by CNN has focused on India’s shrimp-processing industry, alleging ongoing labor issues and a lack of oversight.
The report, which is part of CNN’s ongoing “The Great Illusion” series, interviewed migrant women and girls working at seafood plants in Andhra Pradesh, India. While the majority of those interviewed said their lives had improved overall thanks to the jobs, it also revealed what CNN described as extreme working and living conditions with long shifts and no days off – in violation of India’s labor laws.
According to CNN, some of the women interviewed would work 12-hour days every day and did not get paid for overtime or days off. Under India’s Factories Act, the country mandates a maximum 60-hour work week, with overtime to be paid after 48 hours of work.
The report also said the women – many of whom migrated from other Indian provinces to work in Andhra Pradesh – were only allowed to leave the premises once a month for shopping trips. The monthly pay of the women also stood at roughly INR 11,000 (USD 127, EUR 122), less than the legal minimum monthly wage.
Interviews with recruiters for the processing positions also revealed incentives for them to keep workers on site.
“Recruiters said there were company restrictions on the movement of employees, and some contractors did not allow workers to return home when they wanted to,” CNN wrote. “Another recruiter, Santosh, alleged some contractors ...
