Kerala based plywood industries have been facing huge shortage of manpower, which has badly affected the production. As per report, the production has dipped to 65 percent from last week of March, which is expected to continue till April month. Industry reports that Kerala Plywood manufacturing is majorly dependent on migrant laborers hailed from Assam and West Bengal and assembly election in both states, the workers returned to their home state to cast their votes.
Perumbavoor, Aluva, Kannur etc, the hub of timber industries in the state, have 90 per cent of workers from West Bengal and Assam. “It is difficult to replace such a large number of workers. Plywood industry is badly hit and it continues till these workers return after the elections,” M M Mujeeb Rahman, President of Sawmill Owners and Plywood Manufacturers Association, said.
Plywood Industry expects that the April month will be more critical for producing units because remaining labourers from Orisha, Bihar, Jharkhand may move to their native place due to festival and marriage seasons. Industry sees another dip in production in April month.