Surat: The production of polyester fabric in the country’s largest man-made fabric (MMF) centre has been affected with the power loom, embroidery and textile processing units facing acute shortage of workers for the past few months.

Industry sources said that majority of textile workers, who had gone to their native villages in Uttar Pradesh, Odisha, Bihar and other states to attending marriages, sowing seeds in their fields and casting votes between January to April, are yet to return.

The MMF sector in the city employ about 15 lakh in power loom weaving units, embroidery units and textile processing units. About eight lakh workers are employed in power looms alone. 

The production of polyester fabric is pegged at four crore metres per day. Due to the shortage of workers, the production is reduced by almost 1.5 crore metres per day.

President of Pandesara Weavers Association, Ashish Gujarati said, “Fabric production has dipped by almost 30% in the last few months due to the shortage of workers in the weaving units. Many small units in the industrial estates across the city are either closed or operating at less than 60% of their capacity”

According to Gujarati, most of the textile workers moved out from the city between April and May to vote during the Lok Sabha election in the states like Odisha and Bihar. 

Rajnish Lilha, who owns 30 embroidery machines in Udhna told TOI, “Against the requirement of 20 workers to run 30 embroidery machines, I have just four at my disposal. My workers went to native places to cast their votes and they are yet to return. About 20 embroidery machines are shut down since April.”

On the other hand, the textile processors are also facing shortage of workers and the unit owners are operating at less than 40% of their efficiency.

President of South Gujarat Textile Processors Association (SGTPA), Jitu Vakharia said, “Workers shortage is only adding to our troubles. After implementation of GST, the textile sector is in doldrums. Also, the 0% most favoured nation policy is hurting the sector as the fabric dumping from other countries has increased. At present, the units are operating four days a week to cut down on production.”

Published On : 20-06-2019

Source : Times of India