The leather sector in India is amongst the top eight export earners for the country with an annual production value of US $ 4 billion and an annual export value of US $ 2 billion.

The Council for Leather Exports, which serves as a bridge between Indian leather exporters andinternational buyers, claims that it is “committed to promoting the growth of the Indian leatherindustry in the global markets, through modern, transparent and best industry practices” andpromises “top priority to occupational safety and work conditions”. The reality of the leathergarment workers in Delhi provides a glaringly different picture – growing job insecurity, verylow wages, absence of service records, denial of bonuses or provident funds, no labourinspections, unhealthy and unsafe conditions at the workplace and increasing attempts bythe exporters to thwart workers’ demands by bringing in the police to play the role of an arbite