The Ply Reporter extensive ground survey says that Kerala Plywood manufacturers have not been able to supply materials due to very slow return of migrant workers post covid. The industries based in Kerala are reportedly functioning at 55 to 60 percent level of pre Covid era. The Kennore based Industries reveal that they have sufficient orders but they are unable to produce materials due to acute shortage of workers. The lesser number of work-force at plants is hampering the composing, processing and finishing operations. Kerala manufacturers are trying to bring back people from Benagal, Orissa and Bihar but till writing the news they were unable to manage to get back sufficient labor from these states. There have been regulations imposed by state government to curb Pandemic in state that too have caused delay.
Kerala state has made quarantine period of two weeks compulsory for every outsider, which has created hesitation among migrant workers to come back in the state. Kerala plywood industry is mainly dependent on migrant labour from Orisha, West Bengal and Bihar. Industry says that those labor, who have stayed during Covid period are now going to their home due to festival season, which is another crisis of work force to the industry. Although, they believe that the government will change the Quarantine period, and by November onward the industry will improve their capacity utilization.
Mr. Jose Chako, Director, Delta Plywood says that there is sufficient orders of materials but it is difficult to meet due to shortage of labour. Kerala is the second largest plywood manufacturing hub, which has approximately 450 manufacturing units based in Perumbavoor, Aluwa and Kannur. They have significant market share in Indian Plywood trade, once they have been running its manufacturing properly but the Covid Pandemic has disturbed their workflow.