Migrant Workers Face Uncertain Futures As Tiruppur's Textile Industry Shrinks

A significant number of migrant workers are leaving Tiruppur as job losses in the textile industry escalate. High tariffs and dwindling demand are causing factories to close, leaving many workers vulnerable and seeking alternative employment.

Chennai Central Railway Station is witnessing a surge of migrant workers heading back to their hometowns in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and Jharkhand. This mass departure follows job losses in Tiruppur's textile hub. The hosiery export centre, responsible for nearly one-third of India's textile exports, is grappling with a severe crisis due to 50% tariffs on Indian exports to the US.

The United States remains the largest market for Tiruppur, accounting for up to 35% of its total exports. However, with demand dwindling, businesses have reported a significant 40% drop in volume. Competing nations like Bangladesh and Vietnam, benefiting from lower tariffs, are swiftly capturing contracts that once belonged to Tiruppur.

Impact on Supporting Industries

This downturn has affected not only the textile factories but also supporting industries. Dyeing units, tailoring workshops, button and accessory suppliers, transporters, electricians, and machine repair technicians are all feeling the pinch. The ripple effect of this crisis is widespread across various sectors linked to the textile industry.

Many factories are now operating at just half their capacity. Around 20% of the 2,500 export knitwear industries have already shut down. Once bustling with activity, these factories are now reducing shifts or closing entirely. Migrant workers make up nearly half of the workforce and are among the first to lose jobs.

Migrant Workers' Plight

Rent and food prices in Tiruppur have made it difficult for migrant workers to survive on reduced wages and irregular workdays. As they leave in droves from Tiruppur, their journey home is fraught with uncertainty. Manpower agencies report that thousands return weekly to their villages or seek alternative employment in construction and other sectors within Tamil Nadu.

Older workers prefer returning to their villages while younger migrants look for temporary jobs in cities like Chennai and Coimbatore. However, these alternatives pay significantly less than textile jobs and offer little job security. Labour unions draw parallels between this exodus and the Covid-19 crisis.

Calls for Government Intervention

Labour unions have called for wage support for workers and electricity subsidies for industries. They urge immediate intervention by both central and state governments to prevent a complete collapse of this vital sector. The lack of savings combined with rent burdens makes migrant workers particularly vulnerable during such crises.