Silent protest at Cottage Emporium as Covid salary dues linger

New Delhi: For nearly a year, more than 60 employees of the Cottage Emporium have been wearing badges reading, “We are under protest.” While continuing to report to work and carry out their duties, the employees have been silently protesting the non-payment of salaries during the Covid period, with five months’ dues still pending.

According to the Central Cottage Industries Emporium Employees Union, 63 employees are yet to receive five months of salary from the 2020-21 Covid period.

“We received our last salary on May 8 this year, but it was the salary for Dec 2025. We have been raising the matter with the ministry of textiles and the labour department for years, but we have received only fake assurances so far,” said Anand Singh, president of the Central Cottage Industries Emporium Employees Union.

Besides wearing protest badges since July 2025, employees at the Janpath-based Cottage Emporium gather outside the building for about 10 minutes during their morning and evening tea breaks as part of a “silent protest” over the pending payments.

Cottage Emporium, which deals in handicraft and handloom products, employs staff largely engaged in managing sales counters, assisting customers and maintaining the display and upkeep of items. Some workers are also deployed in departments such as HR and administration.

Vasudevan, general secretary of the union, said the prolonged non-payment forced employees to exhaust their savings.

“Most of the employees were forced to use their provident fund and savings during the Covid period as we did not receive our salaries. Though we are receiving our salaries now, the backlog has not been cleared,” he said, adding that his two children are in college and he is struggling to pay their college and tuition fees.

While showing carpets to customers, Purushotam Das Verkhya, another employee, said he was a heart patient with stents implanted.

“I struggle to manage my medical expenses and am unable to purchase medicines on time,” he said.

The union further alleged that Union minister of textiles Giriraj Singh, in a reply to the Lok Sabha in Feb 2026, stated that the govt had sanctioned a revival package of Rs 81.1 crore for the Central Cottage Industries Corporation on Jan 20, 2026, of which Rs 50 crore had been released.

“Despite Rs 50 crore being released, we are still awaiting our pending salary,” said Bhopal Singh, an employee.

Valmiki Pandit, another worker, said annual increments, dearness allowance and promotions have been on hold for nearly a year.

Calling the narratives circulating on social media “misleading”, the Central Cottage Industries Corporation of India (CCIC) said, “The govt remains deeply committed to the welfare of artisans and staff, as evidenced by the sanctioning of a Rs 81.1 crore revival package aimed at resolving historical liabilities and placing the corporation on a revival path.”

The corporation said salaries were paid during the pandemic despite financial pressures. “When several organisations withheld compensation, CCIC prioritised its workforce and paid salaries uninterrupted,” it said.

Acknowledging delays in later periods, the CCIC attributed these to accumulated dues from the pandemic phase. “However, the corporation has since streamlined its internal cash flows, and employee salaries have been disbursed smoothly and consistently every month for several consecutive months,” the statement said.