Archive · 23 Sep 2026
Commerce Chamber Rejects Eight-Hour Shifts for Textile Workers
Textile workers asked for Sundays off and eight-hour workdays.
The Southern Gujarat Chamber said these demands would not work for embroidery units.
Chamber president Ashok Jirawala said many industry workers work 12-hour shifts.
He also said workers are given holidays when power is staggered in their areas.
According to him, five lakh more workers would be needed if shifts became shorter.
The comments were made after a meeting with textile groups and labour officials.
Other suggestions included paying workers according to their output.
The suggestions also included limiting mobile phone use and sharing some costs when workers cause damage through carelessness.
Southern Gujarat Chamber President Ashok Jirawala said Sunday holidays and eight-hour shifts are not applicable to embroidery-unit workers.
Jirawala said textile units would need five lakh additional workers if eight-hour shifts were introduced.
He said workers receive holidays when power staggering occurs in their areas.
The comments followed a meeting with textile associations and labour officials at the chamber’s Sarsana office.
Suggestions included output-based wages, recovering 50% of negligence-related damage costs, and banning mobile phones inside units.
- Who
- Embroidery-unit workers, textile associations, labour officials, and the Southern Gujarat Chamber of Commerce and Industry, represented by president Ashok Jirawala.
- What
- The chamber said demands for Sunday holidays and eight-hour shifts were not applicable to embroidery-unit workers, while other workplace proposals were also discussed.
- When
- Tuesday.
- Where
- A meeting at the Southern Gujarat Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s office in Sarsana.
- Why
- Jirawala said shorter shifts would require textile units to find five lakh more workers and that industry workers elsewhere work 12-hour shifts.
Workers’ Demands
Chamber’s Position
Working hours
Workers’ Demands
Embroidery-unit workers demanded eight-hour work shifts.
Chamber’s Position
Ashok Jirawala said eight-hour shifts were not applicable and said industry workers work 12-hour shifts elsewhere.
Weekly holidays
Workers’ Demands
Workers demanded Sundays off.
Chamber’s Position
The chamber said unit owners provide holidays when power staggering occurs in their areas.
Workforce requirements
Workers’ Demands
Shorter shifts would provide a different work schedule for current workers.
Chamber’s Position
Jirawala said five lakh additional workers would be needed if eight-hour shifts were implemented.
- Chamber
- The Southern Gujarat Chamber of Commerce and Industry
- Chamber president
- Ashok Jirawala
- Workers involved
- Embroidery-unit workers
- Workers reportedly needed for shorter shifts
- Five lakh
- Meeting participants
- Textile associations and labour officials
- Additional suggestions
- Output-based wages, recovering 50% of negligence-related damage costs, and banning mobile phones inside units
- Meeting location
- The chamber’s office in Sarsana