Over 1,200 garment workers re-hired after heavy lay-off during lockdown: Karnataka In a historic win for the trade union movement, workers from Gokaldas Exports Ltd now hope that the agreements and recognition given to their unions will result in speedier talks between employers and workers. Sabrangindia15 Feb 2021 Image Courtesy:timesofindia.indiatimes.com Following several weeks of protest, over 1,200 Indian garment workers formerly fired by Karnataka’s H&M supplier during the coronavirus lockdown, will return to work, said Telegraph on February 14, 2021. The rehiring decision is considered a historic win for labour unions. Garment manufacturer Gokaldas Exports Limited agreed to re-employ 1,257 workers, including many women, who were laid off when the company closed a factory near Mysore in June 2020, said two Indian unions and global federation IndustriALL. At the time, the company said that H&M order cancellations led to the factory’s closure. However, the giant brand denied this and stated that it paid for all products as agreed.