About 500 powerloom job working unit owners today observed a one-day hunger strike in Palladam in Tirupur district, protesting against the cloth merchants for paying lesser than the wage agreement signed in 2014.

The unit owners were weaving fabrics as per the orders given by the clothes merchants, who had entered into agreement in 2014 that gave 27 per cent hike in the wages. However, weavers alleged that, for the last few days, the merchants had been paying lesser than what was agreed upon.

The future course of action will be decided soon, sources in Job Working Unit Owners Association said.