While garment unit owners maintain that the industry is struggling, trade union leaders have long argued that several units where trade unions exist already pay a minimum wage of Rs 10,000 or above, and still manage to make a profit...workers wanted the implementation of the Minimum Wages Act, 1948, to ensure that the basic minimum wage is increased every five years. “But using influence and powerful industry lobbies, owners of the garment and textile units have delayed this for years. Even this court order has come after 12 years. We want the minimum wage hiked to Rs 18,000, when central government employees are demanding Rs 26,000...One question that lingers is exactly how many workers the court order would benefit. “Units employ anywhere between 10 and 1,000 workers. This order may technically be applicable to only those who enjoy formal contracts, mostly workers in larger units. Decline of trade union forces over the years has hurt their cause,” said a garment unit owner, who pays Rs 8,500 a month.