Mandatory antigen test holds up migrants’ return

Surat: As the Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC) has made the rapid antigen tests for the migrant workers mandatory to contain the spread of the coronavirus infection, the textile units owners have started contacting their workers requesting them not to come back for now.
The primary reason being the unit owner has to bear the expense of the rapid antigen test of his workers, which costs about Rs 835 per person.
Textile unit owners said that the textile industry was already under financial stress with less than 15% units operational and adding the cost of rapid antigen test of the workers will be an extra burden on them.
Jitendra Vakharia, president of South Gujarat Textile Processors’ Association (SGTPA) told TOI, “Less than 40 textile mills out of the total 350 mills in the city have become operational with less than 30% workers in each unit. The textile processors were trying all possible ways to bring the migrant workers back to the city, but the efforts have been stopped after the mandatory rapid antigen test of the workers was ordered by the administration.”
Vakharia added, “There is severe financial crisis in the industry due to the weak demand. In such circumstances, the mill owners are unable to spend Rs 835 on each worker to get them tested for Covid-19. We need the financial support of the government for carrying out the tests.”
On an average, each textile mill employ about 500 workers.
Kamal Tulsiyan, president of Pandesara Mill Owners Association said, “We don’t oppose the mandatory antigen test of the migrant workers, but this is going to be a huge financial burden. Over 15 lakh workers have gone to their natives. It they return one can calculated the financial implications.”
A textile mill owner asking anonymity said, “About 200 workers from Orrisa were about to come to Surat in next 10 days, but we have asked them to stay in their villages after the mandatory rapid antigen test guidelines was issued. We cannot afford to spend money at a time when business is nil.”
Deputy municipal commissioner (health and hospital), Dr Ashish Naik said, “SMC will be providing the health teams for carrying out the tests, while the industrial units will have to pay for the test.”