Work Stalled in Amroli Industrial Area After Wage Hike Posters Threaten Looms Workers

Surat – The Amroli industrial area has come to a standstill after a poster in the Odia language demanding a wage hike was plastered across various locations. The poster stated that loom workers would not enter factories unless the rate was increased by 20 paise per meter, warning that any worker who did would be held responsible. The message spread rapidly among the predominantly Odia-speaking workers, leading to a mass strike that has halted production in around 800 loom factories for the past three days.

Vijaybhai Mangukia, a local weaver, shared that the posters were put up late Tuesday night, and they quickly instilled fear among the workers, causing them to cease work. "There are nearly 800 loom factories in the Amroli area, most of which employ workers from Odisha. The posting of this demand has led to a complete shutdown of operations," said Mangukia.

Production Losses and Growing Concerns

According to Mangukia, the shutdown has severely impacted production, with approximately 30 lakh meters of fabric produced daily from these 800 units. The three-day halt has led to a loss of 90 lakh meters in output. "My concern is finding out who is behind these posters and why they are trying to harm the textile industry. This isn't the first time—similar incidents have been happening over the past seven years. A similar poster campaign took place in 2022 as well," Mangukia added.

Police Investigation Underway

While the Federation of Gujarat Weavers Association (FOGWA) has yet to be informed, Mangukia emphasized his desire to uncover the individuals responsible for the disruptive posters. The police have been notified, and an investigation is underway to determine the source of this organized disruption in the loom sector.