I finally got to go to the Mahalaxmi Dhobi Ghat in Mumbai where they do a ton of laundry! 5000 people work here - it used to be 10,000 people, but electric washers have contributed to people losing their jobs. About 90% of the workers are men and 10% are women - some are couples with children. They come from all over India to work 18 hour days for 200-300 rupees a day ($100 a month) and go home to see their families once a year.
This is a space that 20 men share. the tin boxes are where they keep their personal belongings and the sleep in the top in shifts.
Each cubicle is owned by a boss and there are 5-10 employees for each box. some one picks up the laundry, someone soaks it and gets out stains, someone washes, some one dries, and someone delivers the laundry.
Most of the laundry is from hotels, hospitals, the railway lines, and factories that make new clothes. The factories pre-wash the clothes before importing them to the US, UK, etc. The said the people that work here are very well dressed although they are very poor because they take the clothes. She said the companies treat it as an expected, acceptable loss. If they send 10,000 pieces to be washed, they expect to get 8500 back.
After the tour, we took the train to Churchgate station and saw the dabbawallas delivering lunches. If you have never seen a documentary on dabbawallas, then you should!
and I think this is the funniest sign I have seen in Mumbai!
This is a space that 20 men share. the tin boxes are where they keep their personal belongings and the sleep in the top in shifts.
Each cubicle is owned by a boss and there are 5-10 employees for each box. some one picks up the laundry, someone soaks it and gets out stains, someone washes, some one dries, and someone delivers the laundry.
Most of the laundry is from hotels, hospitals, the railway lines, and factories that make new clothes. The factories pre-wash the clothes before importing them to the US, UK, etc. The said the people that work here are very well dressed although they are very poor because they take the clothes. She said the companies treat it as an expected, acceptable loss. If they send 10,000 pieces to be washed, they expect to get 8500 back.
After the tour, we took the train to Churchgate station and saw the dabbawallas delivering lunches. If you have never seen a documentary on dabbawallas, then you should!
and I think this is the funniest sign I have seen in Mumbai!
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