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Textile workers protest in Surat for 8-hour shifts and weekly offs

Surat, Gujarat, India · since Aug 15, 2026

Is it still on?

YESDay 63 and counting, since Aug 15.

Last report · checked

The Tea in three lines

Why they are protesting
Workers are protesting against 12-hour shifts, denial of weekly holidays, and dismissals for seeking leave in Surat's textile industry.
What they want
Workers demand an 8-hour workday, a paid weekly holiday, and adherence to labour laws.
What changed
Oct 16: Police detained approximately 70 workers protesting outside the collector's office for lacking protest permission.
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Both sides

What protesters want

  • 8-hour workday
  • Paid weekly holiday
  • Adherence to labour laws
  • Higher wages

Organised by: Textile Embroidery Jobwork Association of Surat (TEJAS)

What authorities say

The Labour Department held multiple meetings with stakeholders. Police have maintained a presence at protest sites, registered FIRs against 500 individuals, and detained 70 workers. Union Textiles Minister Giriraj Singh urged a family-like resolution.123

The numbers

Only figures a source states, with who said it. Estimates often differ.

Crowd
20,000
Around 20,000 unit owners gathered for a meeting according to the Textile Embroidery Jobwork Association of Surat.2
Arrests / detentions
78
Police arrested eight people following earlier tensions and detained 70 workers on October 16.13

The full story

Textile and embroidery workers in Surat have been engaged in an ongoing agitation since mid-August 2026, demanding an 8-hour workday and a paid weekly off. The movement, linked to the 'Gaon Chalo Abhiyan' campaign, involves migrant workers who allege they are forced into 12-hour shifts. While the Labour Department has facilitated meetings between unions and the Textile Embroidery Jobwork Association of Surat (TEJAS), no resolution has been reached. Industry representatives argue that full compliance with labour codes would increase costs, and have proposed linking benefits to salary deductions for material damage. Tensions have resulted in police intervention, including the registration of FIRs against 500 people and the detention of 70 workers at the collector's office. Union Textiles Minister Giriraj Singh has publicly urged both parties to resolve the dispute.

Timeline

  1. Police detained around 70 workers outside the collector's office for protesting without permission.3

  2. Approximately 20,000 unit owners held a meeting to discuss the labour code implementation.2

  3. Union Textiles Minister Giriraj Singh visited Surat and called for a resolution between workers and employers.3

  4. The Deputy Labour Commissioner directed industry associations to comply with labour laws.1

  5. The agitation began as part of a campaign known as Gaon Chalo Abhiyan.3

Pins sit on city centres, never on gathering points

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