In order to draw migrant workers to the knitwear export hub, the Tirupur Exporters Association (TEA), which is experiencing a manpower crisis, has asked the government for assistance in establishing accommodation facilities for these workers.

Currently, Tirupur can hire more than 1 lakh more workers, according to TEA President K M Subramanian. The demand for a larger workforce, especially migrant labour, is predicted to expand dramatically because to the expected surge in orders following the implementation of impending Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) and Bilateral Trade Agreements (BTAs), according to Subramanian.

Nonetheless, a significant obstacle is the absence of suitable housing options for these labourers. He stated that since this is a labour-intensive industry, it is critical to address this problem as soon as possible.

As a result, the TEA president stated that Government assistance is being sought for the establishment of hostel facilities, with a finance model that includes a 75% government commitment and a 25% industry contribution. According to the TEA president, Tirupur alone accounts for over 68% of India’s knitwear exports, with FY ’25 exports at Rs. 45,000 crore (US $ 5.26 billion), a 25% increase over FY ’24.

By 2030, Tirupur exporters hope to reach Rs 1 lakh crore in exports, with an annual growth objective of 15%. They anticipate that when the India-UK Free Trade Agreement (FTA) is signed and goes into effect by the end of this year, orders will have increased by 10%.