Rising COVID cases are causing labor shortage for garment exporters from Noida and leather goods exporters from Mumbai, Delhi and Kolkata. Around 3,000 garment export units are currently facing a shortage of around 3 lakh tailors. This is causing concerns amongst exporters having orders from US and Europe. Leather goods exporters flooded with orders from global markets are also worried over the shortage of manpower due to a spike in COVID cases. They have taken up the matter with the Uttar Pradesh government as well, informs Lalit Thukral, President, Noida Apparel Export Cluster.

Rising cotton prices is adding to the woes of these exporters.. Cotton prices which were at Rs 37,000 per candy of 335 kg in September 2020 have gone to up to Rs 70,000 in December 2021, adds Thukral. This may cause delay in delivery of orders leading to loss in business that may shift to other countries like Bangladesh and Vietnam, he adds further.

Leather exporters in Kolkata, Mumbai and Delhi are also witnessing a decline in workforce due to rising covid cases among them. The workers, who are double vaccinated, are falling prey to this new variant of COVID, impacting manpower, adds Ramesh Juneja, Regional Chairman, Council of Leather Exports.