Archive · 16 Nov 2025
Surat Textile Mills Face Labour Shortage Post-Bihar Elections
Imagine a big factory that makes clothes, like a giant sewing machine.
Lots of workers who make these clothes went home for holidays and to vote in an election.
Now, they want to come back to work, but it's hard for them to find train tickets because so many people want to travel.
Because the workers aren't there, the factory can't make as many clothes as usual, even though people want to buy them for weddings.
The factory owners are trying to get the workers back, sometimes by paying extra for bus tickets or higher train fares.
They hope most workers will be back soon so the factory can start making lots of clothes again.
Surat's textile mills are facing a 30% labor shortage as workers struggle to return from their home states after festivals and elections.
Mill owners are incurring extra costs to arrange travel for workers via luxury buses or private transport due to train ticket scarcity.
The shortage impacts timely production, with existing workers working double shifts and over 60% of machinery remaining non-operational.
Demand for textile products is high due to the ongoing wedding season and upcoming festivals.
Industry sources anticipate a full return to normal operations by the last week of November, contingent on worker availability.
- Who
- Textile mill owners and contractors in Surat
- What
- Experiencing a significant labor shortage impacting production due to difficulties in bringing workers back from their home states after holidays and elections.
- When
- Following Diwali, Chhath Puja, and the Bihar elections; expected to recover by the last week of November.
- Where
- Surat, a major textile hub in Gujarat, particularly in areas like Pandesara, Sachin, Kadodara, and Palsana.
- Why
- Workers returned to their native states for festivals and elections, and face challenges in securing train tickets for their return journey due to high demand and limited availability.
- Location
- Surat, Gujarat
- Industry
- Textile (Dyeing and Printing Mills, Powerloom Factories)
- Affected Workforce Origin
- Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand, Odisha, Uttarakhand
- Labour Shortage Percentage
- Over 30%
- Operational Impact
- Up to 60% of machinery shut down, production affected
- Expected Full Functionality
- By the last week of November