Labour Shortage Hits Tiruppur Amid Rising US Export Orders
India’s ‘knitwear capital’ Tiruppur faces a severe labour shortage as thousands of migrant workers who returned home to vote in the recent Lok Sabha elections are not coming back. This comes as export inquiries from the US show early signs of recovery.
The shortage, estimated at 100,000-150,000 workers from Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Assam, and West Bengal, is driven by expectations of new local job opportunities from government development projects. In response, the Tiruppur Exporters Association (TEA) has launched a job drive and is offering higher wages to lure workers back.
“In the last three months, US orders have risen by 10% year-on-year,” said TEA President K M Subramanian, noting the recovery from economic slowdowns caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, global recessions, and the Russia-Ukraine war. The demand for tailors, checkers, assistants, and merchandisers has surged. “Many workers prefer to stay home, expecting local job opportunities post-elections,” said former TEA President Raja Shanmugam. New apparel clusters in Uttar Pradesh are attracting manufacturers, making local jobs more accessible for workers from nearby states like Bihar and Odisha.
TEA has recommended a 5-10% wage increase and noted that large companies are willing to train and hire inexperienced workers. “Skill-development centres will train unskilled manpower to meet industry needs,” Subramanian added.
