India Hair Exports Worth Billions but Workers Earn Meager Incomes
The global demand for human hair, particularly Indian hair, has led to a lucrative wig industry worth billions. However, the workers who collect and process this hair earn meager incomes, often below minimum wage standards. Efforts are underway to promote investment in the hair industry, improve value addition, and increase exports of finished wigs rather than raw hair.
- The hair collection business is a significant sector in India, with thousands of people employed as pickers, but their earnings remain low due to price controls by intermediaries.
- Can the Indian government's efforts to promote investment and innovation in the hair industry lead to improved working conditions and higher incomes for workers in this sector?