Exports: 1.09 lakh people lost jobs

Over one lakh people have lost their jobs in the export sector in the last five months due to the global downturn, the Rajya Sabha was informed on Wednesday.

"A sample survey conducted by the Department of Commerce for 402 exporting units spread over 17 different sectors, primarily employment oriented, revealed job loss (both direct and indirect) to the tune of 1,09,513 persons during the period August 2008 to mid-January," Minister of State for Commerce and Industry Jairam Ramesh said in a written reply.

He said that the global slowdown, particularly in the US and European countries, have impacted India's exports, which witnessed a decline in growth since October 2008.

After registering a handsome growth rate of over 30 per cent in the first-half of the fiscal, India's exports entered the negative zone in October 2008, dipping by 12.1

per cent.

The shipments from India during April-December 2008 was $130.91 billion compared to $113.48 billion in the corresponding period last year, the minister said.

The sectors, which have been affected are gems and jewellery, leather, textile, handloom, carpets and handicrafts he said.

The government had given measures like increase in interest subsidy for the exporters in its two stimulus packages announced in December last year and January 2009.