Shahi Exports partners with Good Business Lab to combat employee turnover with digital solutions

Apparel manufacturing and export business Shahi Exports has joined forces with labour research organisation Good Business Lab to empower workers to voice their concerns through a new digital pilot project for ‘Inache’.

To address employment issues in the apparel manufacturing industry including absenteeism and high turnover rates, Shahi Exports has introduced a new software by Good Business Group, the business announced in a press release. After its research showed that workers able to express themselves were 20% less likely to leave their jobs, the business has digitised its communication process to encourage workers to speak up.
 
“Nearly 68% of textile workers hesitate to voice concerns due to fear of repercussions, language barriers, and other factors, which may lead to dissatisfaction,” announced the business in a press release. “Digital tools, which are anonymous and digital and allow for two-way communication, can address this gap. For example, suggestion boxes, though anonymous, do not allow workers to track resolutions, which may lead workers to feel unheard and underserved. Inache, developed by Good Business Lab, offers a unique channel that can supplement existing mechanisms.”
 
With Inache, workers can share feedback anonymously with their supervisors or HR. They can then track the response to see the issue resolved. Inache is enabled for both voice and text messages and operates in multiple languages.
 
Sarla Ahuja established Shahi in 1974. The family owned company counts itself as India’s largest apparel manufacturer and exporter and runs three fabric processing mills as well as 50 apparel manufacturing units spread across eight Indian states. The business’ workforce exceeds 96,000 people and Shahi also runs a number of sustainability initiatives.