In Surat's weaving units a weaver (karigar) is paid one of three ways: per metre, per lakh picks or a fixed monthly wage. All three are fine — as long as you know what each one means, its formula and where it hurts. This guide works out all three on the same weaver's numbers, then covers advances (upad), deductions and the wage sheet.
1. Per metre
Metres woven × the rate. The simplest method — everyone can see a taka's metres.
Month = per day × days worked
Example
A weaver runs 6 looms and weaves 1,100 metres a shift across them. Rate ₹0.80 a metre (example only), 26 working days.
- Per day: 1,100 × 0.80 = ₹880
- Per month: 880 × 26 = ₹22,880
For: easy to understand, and the weaver wants more metres. Against: a quality with more picks weaves slower, so the weaver's metres fall — through no fault of theirs.
2. Per lakh picks
Here wages follow picks. One metre of cloth has PPI × 39.37 picks (1 metre = 39.37 inches).
Wages a day = picks ÷ 1,00,000 × ₹ per lakh picks
Same rate in ₹ per metre = PPI × 39.37 × rate ÷ 1,00,000
Example
The same 1,100 metres on a 50-pick quality, at ₹40 per lakh picks (example only).
- Picks: 1,100 × 50 × 39.37 = 21,65,350 = 21.65 lakh
- Per day: 21.6535 × 40 = ₹866.14
- On 50 picks this rate equals ₹0.79 a metre
Now a 60-pick quality goes on the looms. The looms insert the same picks, so metres drop to 1,100 × 50 ÷ 60 = 916.67 m. Per lakh picks the wage stays ₹866.14. At ₹0.80 a metre it falls to ₹733.33 — ₹146.67 a day less for the same work.
For: fair across qualities. Against: picks need explaining to the weaver, and a wrong PPI on the quality means wrong wages.
3. Fixed monthly
A set amount each month, whatever the metres. Common for helpers, jobbers, or where a production rate is hard to agree.
Example
Fixed ₹18,000 a month (example only). The weaver joins on the 11th and works 20 days of a 30-day month: 18,000 × 20 ÷ 30 = ₹12,000.
For: simple, and steady income for the weaver. Against: no direct reward for more output — the supervisor has to watch efficiency.
Put your own numbers into the Weaver wages calculator — it takes per metre, per lakh picks or paise per pick.
Advances (upad) and deductions
Paying an advance mid-month is normal. Just record the date, amount and who paid it, and take it off on payday:
Example
Opening balance ₹1,200, earnings ₹22,880, two advances of ₹2,500. Balance due = 1,200 + 22,880 − 5,000 = ₹19,080.
Agree the rule for deductions (damage, unannounced leave) in advance and tell the weaver. Write every deduction on its own line with the reason — quietly cutting the rate causes the worst disputes. Check with your adviser which deductions the law allows.
Common mistakes
- Basis not written down. "Rate 40" — per lakh picks or per metre? Write it down on the joining day.
- Old work at the new rate. Work before the date a rate changed should stay at the old rate.
- Taka on the wrong loom. A wrong loom or shift in taka entry puts the metres in another weaver's account.
- Advances in a diary, wages in a register. Two places never agree at month end.
- Forgetting fents and B grade. Decide up front whether fent metres are paid.
When efficiency drops, a per-metre weaver earns less too; see how the two connect in the loom efficiency guide.
In Loomiro
The worker master holds each worker's basis — per metre, per lakh picks or fixed monthly — and rate. To change a rate you enter a new rate from a date; earlier work keeps the earlier rate. A weaver's earnings come straight from Taka Entry (the last weaver on that loom and shift is filled in), with lakh picks from the taka metres × the quality's picks × 39.37. Spreaders earn from beam loading, drawing-in and dropper workers from beam work. Fixed wages accrue month by month; a part month is the rate × days ÷ 30.
On the wage sheet you pick a period and see takas, metres, lakh picks, rate, opening balance, earnings, advances, paid and balance due — one line per worker. Tap a name for the full ledger. Advances, payments and bonuses are entered right there, and the sheet prints for payday.
In Loomiro the bonus / adjustment entry only adds to wages — there is no separate deduction entry. Lakh picks come from taka metres, not from the loom counter.