Impact of the New Labour Codes on Textile Workers in Surat

Abstract

The implementation of India’s new Labour Codes is a significant reform in the country’s Labour Law framework, and particularly occupational safety, health and working conditions. The Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code, 2020 (OSH Code) consolidates several existing Labour Laws relating to workplace safety, working conditions, contract labour and inter-State migrant workers. The Labour Codes came into effect nationally on 21 November 2025, making their practical implementation an important area of contemporary Labour Law research (Ministry of Labour & Employment, 2026).

Table of Contents

The research will adopt an empirical research design, based on primary information gathered from textile workers in Surat and secondary information retrieved from legal and academic sources. It is important to focus on migrant and contract workers, given the nature of risks they are exposed to. Recent studies have highlighted the lack of protection of vulnerable groups in the OSH Code (Krishna, 2025).

2. Objective

To find out the awareness of textile workers in Surat about their rights and benefits provided by the New Labour Codes.
To understand the impact of New Labour Codes on working hours, overtime, safety, and health provisions and general working conditions of the textile workers.
To find out the main problems faced by textile workers in realizing the rights and benefits entitled to them by the New Labour Codes.

3. Introduction

The textile industry is among the major employment-generating sectors in Surat, Gujarat. Surat is known as an important textile and diamond hub, which provides employment opportunities to skilled, semi-skilled and unskilled workers. A significant proportion of the textile workforce consists of migrant workers who come from different states in search of employment and better income opportunities. The textile sector in Surat includes yarn manufacturing, weaving, printing, dyeing and other processing activities (Maurya, 2023).

Workers may be subjected to long working hours and exposure to noise, high temperatures, humidity, chemical fumes, cotton dust and synthetic dust. A study conducted among 348 migrant textile workers in Surat reported that 95% of workers experienced occupational morbidity. Musculoskeletal problems were reported by 72.7% of workers, while respiratory, ophthalmic, skin and ENT problems were also observed (Maurya, 2023).

For textile workers, these reforms are particularly relevant because they address areas such as working hours, overtime, workplace safety, health examinations, contract labour and inter-state migrant workers. The Government of Gujarat notified the Gujarat Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Rules, 2025 on 6 June 2025, which were published in the Gujarat Government Gazette on 12 June 2025.

4. Research Gaps

4.1 Research Within The 2025–2026 Time Frame

There is limited research on the impact of New Labour Codes on Surat’s textile workers within the time frame of 2025-2026.

4.2 Workers’ Knowledge Of New Rights

There is a lack of information regarding workers’ knowledge of their new rights and the extent to which the Labour Codes protect their interests.

4.3 Enforcement And Working Conditions

The known about the enforcement of the Codes and how they improve working conditions and safety in the workplace.

5. Literature Review

5.1 Occupational Health And Working Conditions Of Textile Workers

According to Maurya’s (2023) study on textile migrant workers in Surat, it is evident that these workers experience diverse occupational health problems due to the working conditions. The author’s findings show that textile workers undergo extreme working conditions such as long working hours, noise, temperature, humidity, exposure to chemical fumes, and textile dust, contributing to various musculoskeletal, respiratory, eye, skin, and ENT disorders.[1]

5.2 Labour Welfare And Workers’ Rights In Gujarat

Parwez’s (2018) research provides a complete description of the state of labour welfare and working conditions of workers in Gujarat. The study emphasizes the importance of having appropriate labour laws, but their proper implementation is needed to ensure that all welfare measures, such as job security and working conditions, are not compromised.

5.3 New Labour Codes And Occupational Safety

Dave and Dave’s article discuss the New Labour Codes and their impact on the workers in Gujarat. Their study provides an insight into the newly implemented four Labour Codes, including Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions (OSH) Code, 2020, and changes associated with each code. This study also sheds light upon the issues concerning the effective enforcement of labour regulations and the challenges associated with the self-certification and compliance of the newly enforced wage and workplace safety laws.

5.4 Awareness And Implementation Of Labour Rights

Although all the reviewed articles focus on occupational health and safety, workers’ welfare, working conditions, and the implementation of the new labour laws, little is known about the awareness level of the textile workers in Surat about their rights and the new labour laws.

Therefore, the present study aims to assess the level of awareness of the workers about their rights and the new labour laws focusing on working hours and overtime, safety provisions, and issues concerning the workers in their entitlement to wages, working conditions, and benefits.

6. Research Methodology

Research methodology explains the overall process of conducting a study in a systematic and meaningful way. It covers the research design, research approach, population and sample, sampling method, research instrument, data collection procedure, data analysis techniques, and methods of checking reliability of collected data and validity.[2]

6.1 Research Problem Statement

The textile industry comprises one of the major sources of employment in Surat, providing work to a number of workers in weaving, dyeing, printing, processing and other textile-related activities. Working hours, overtime and occupational safety, health and welfare benefits are major concerns.

Previous research conducted in the textile industry has reported occupational morbidity associated with long working hours and noise, heat, humidity, chemical and textile dust at workplace in Surat (Maurya, 2023). These studies identify the relevance of protecting workers from occupational hazards.

This study therefore examines the impact of the New Labour Codes on textile workers in Surat by focusing on the following three major areas:

Awareness of labour rights.
The impact on working hours, overtime, occupational safety, health and working conditions.
The challenges faced in accessing labour benefits and protections.

6.2 Research Design

The research design provides a basic plan of conducting the study. It guides the researcher in determining the kind of information that will be required, from whom information should be collected and how the collected information will be analysed.

Creswell (2014) explains that research design provides a structured plan for addressing a research problem and achieving the objectives of the study. The present research design follows from the identified research gap and the three objectives of the study.

6.3 Research Approach

The present study will follow a qualitative research approach because the purpose of the study is to understand experiences, awareness, opinions and challenges of textile workers regarding the New Labour Codes. A qualitative approach is suitable here because it helps the researcher to understand how people experience a particular issue in their real-life environmental context rather than focusing on quantitative results.

In this study, the researcher will directly collect information from textile workers in Surat on their experiences, awareness, opinions and challenges regarding the New Labour Codes. The focus will be on understanding what workers know about their labour rights and how they understand the provisions of the New Labour Codes, as well as how they experience working hours, overtime, occupational safety, health and other working conditions.[3]

The study will use semi-structured interviews and open-ended questions to allow workers to express their views in their own words. This will provide respondents an opportunity to explain their experiences, problems and opinions in more detail. The use of open-ended questions here is useful because workers may have different experiences that cannot be fully captured by selecting answers from a pre-given set of options.

Exploratory approach will be followed since practical experiences of textile workers regarding the New Labour Codes in Surat requires understanding. The study will aim not only to measure how many workers have awareness about a particular provision but also why they might have limited awareness, how they understand their rights, what problems they experience and what challenges they face in receiving labour protections.

The information collected through interviews and open-ended responses will be analysed through thematic analysis. Similar responses will be grouped together to identify major themes related to the research objectives. Braun and Clarke (2006) explain that thematic analysis can be used to identify and interpret important patterns or themes within qualitative data.

6.4 Population Of The Study

The population of the study consists of textile workers working in Surat city and its surrounding textile areas. The population includes workers involved in different types of textile-related activities including weaving, processing, dyeing, printing, yarn-related activities and other production activities.

Textile workers are selected since they are directly affected by workplace rules and labour conditions. Experiences can provide useful information about working hours, overtime, occupational safety, health facilities, employment conditions and awareness of labour rights.

Previous research provides a strong reason for focusing on this population. Maurya (2023) in a study of textile industries in Surat has reported occupational health problems among workers highlighting the relationship between workplace conditions and worker health.[4]

6.5 Sample Of The Study

It may not be possible to collect information from every textile worker working in Surat. Therefore, a sample of workers will be selected from the larger population.

The sample will include textile workers with direct experience of working in textile related establishments. Workers from different types of textile activities may be included so that the study does not depend on the experience of only one type of worker. The selection of respondents will consider their direct involvement in textile work and their ability to provide information about their workplace experiences. The final sample size will depend on the accessibility of workers, their willingness to participate and the time available for primary data collection.

6.6 Sampling Technique

The Study will use purposive sampling as the main sampling technique. Purposive sampling is a non-probability sampling method where participants are selected because they have direct knowledge or experience relevant to the research topic. Patton (2002) explains that purposive sampling is useful when the researcher needs information from people who can provide relevant and meaningful experiences. For this study, textile workers will be selected for their direct experiences of the working conditions being examined.

The researcher will approach workers who are involved in textile related activities and are willing to participate in the study. Workers may vary in age, education, experience, type of textile work, employment type and working hours. Including workers with different backgrounds can provide a broader understanding of the issue.

6.7 Research Instrument

The main instrument for collecting primary data will be a structured questionnaire.

The questionnaire will be prepared according to the research objectives and will use simple language so that textile workers can understand the questions easily.

The questionnaire will be divided into different sections.

Section A: Personal And Work-Related Information[5]

This section will collect basic information such as:

Age
Gender
Educational qualification
Years of work experience
Type of textile work
Employment type
Daily working hours
Number of working days
Experience of overtime work

Section B: Awareness Of Labour Rights

This section will examine whether workers know about labour rights and provisions related to their employment.

Questions may cover awareness of:

Working-hour provisions
Overtime-related provisions
Workplace safety
Health and welfare facilities
Social security
Leave and employment-related benefits
Protection available to workers

Section C: Working Conditions And Safety

This section will examine workers’ experiences regarding:

Working hours
Overtime
Workplace safety
Protective equipment
Heat and noise
Dust and chemical exposure
Health facilities
Rest facilities
General working environment

This section is particularly relevant since earlier research in Surat has identified occupational risks among textile workers. Maurya (2023) has reported exposure to conditions including noise, high temperature, humidity, chemical fumes and cotton or synthetic dust.

Section D: Access To Labour Benefits

This section will ask workers whether they receive or can access relevant benefits and protections. The questions will focus on whether workers know where to obtain information, whether employers explain labour rights, and whether workers experience difficulties in receiving benefits.

Section E: Challenges And Suggestions

The final section will provide workers an opportunity to identify the major difficulties they face.

Questions may include challenges related to:

Lack of awareness
Lack of information
Employer communication
Documentation
Fear of raising complaints
Difficulty accessing benefits
Lack of proper workplace facilities
Lack of knowledge about complaint mechanisms

Workers may be given an opportunity to provide suggestions for improving labour protection and workplace conditions.

6.8 Data Collection Procedure

Data collection is an important stage of the research because the quality of the final findings depends on the information collected from respondents.

Primary data will be collected directly from textile workers in Surat using the structured questionnaire. Before beginning the main survey, the researcher will explain the purpose of the study to the respondents. Participation in the study will be voluntary. Workers will be informed that the information collected will only be used for academic research.

The questions will be explained in simple language whenever required. This is particularly important since respondents may have different educational backgrounds. The researcher will strive to collect responses from workers from different textile related activities to obtain a broader understanding of workplace conditions. Reference methodology highlights the importance of collecting primary information directly from participants since their responses provide information about real experiences and perceptions.[6]

6.9 Hypothesis Of The Study

A hypothesis is a statement that can be tested using collected data. It helps the researcher to examine whether a relationship exists between selected variables.

The hypotheses of this study are directly connected with the research objectives.

Hypothesis 1: Awareness Of Labour Rights

H₀1: There is no significant relationship between textile workers’ awareness of the New Labour Codes and their awareness of labour rights and benefits.

H₁1: There is a significant relationship between textile workers’ awareness of the New Labour Codes and their awareness of labour rights and benefits.

This hypothesis is connected with the first objective. It helps examine whether awareness of the New Labour Codes is related with workers’ knowledge of their rights and available benefits.

Hypothesis 2: Labour Codes And Working Conditions

H₀2: There is no significant relationship between the implementation of the New Labour Codes and workers’ working hours, overtime, occupational safety, health and overall working conditions.

H₁2: There is a significant relationship between the implementation of the New Labour Codes and workers’ working hours, overtime, occupational safety, health and overall working conditions.

This hypothesis is connected with the second objective. It focuses on whether workers’ perception of labour-code implementation is associated with important aspects of their workplace conditions.

The importance of this area is supported by earlier research from Surat. Maurya (2023) has found occupational health problems among textile workers identifying workplace conditions such as long working hours, noise, heat, humidity, chemical fumes and textile dust as relevant occupational risks.

Hypothesis 3: Access To Labour Benefits

H₀3: There is no significant relationship between the implementation of the New Labour Codes and the challenges faced by textile workers in accessing labour benefits and protections.

H₁3: There is a significant relationship between the implementation of the New Labour Codes and the challenges faced by textile workers in accessing labour benefits and protections.[7]

This hypothesis is related to the third objective. It focuses on whether workers who experience difficulties in implementation also report greater challenges in receiving or accessing labour benefits and protections.

This is relevant because Parwez (2018) emphasizes that the effectiveness of labour legislation depends not only on the existence of legal provisions but also on their actual implementation.

6.10 Ethical Considerations

Ethical considerations are important when collecting information directly from workers. Participation in the study will be voluntary. Respondents will be informed about the purpose of the research before answering the questionnaire. The researcher will respect the privacy of respondents and avoid collecting unnecessary personal information. The information provided by workers will be used only for academic purposes. Individual respondents will not be identified in the final research report unless they specifically provide permission. Respondents will also have the freedom to refuse to answer any question that they do not feel comfortable answering.

6.11 Scope Of The Study

The study focuses specifically on textile workers in Surat and examines their awareness and experiences related to the New Labour Codes.

The main areas covered are:

Awareness of labour rights and provisions.
Working hours and overtime.
Occupational safety and health.
General working conditions.
Access to labour benefits and protections.
Challenges faced by workers in receiving these benefits.

The study does not attempt to examine every sector or every category of worker in India. Its main focus is the textile sector in Surat.

6.12 Limitations Of The Study

Like any field-based study, this research may have some limitations.

First, the study focuses on textile workers in Surat, so the findings may not represent workers from all industries or all parts of India. Second, the research will depend partly on workers’ responses. Some respondents may not remember exact details about their working hours, benefits and workplace experiences. Third, some workers may hesitate to provide completely open responses because they may be concerned of their employment or relationship with their employer. Fourth, the use of purposive sampling means that the findings should be interpreted in the context of the selected respondents rather than treated as a statistically representative sample of every textile worker in Surat.

7. Data Analysis, Findings And Suggestions

The present study, namely “Impact of the New Labour Codes on Textile Workers in Surat”, seeks to understand workers’ awareness of labour rights, their experiences regarding working hours, overtime, occupational safety and health, and the challenges they face in accessing labour benefits. As the study takes a qualitative and exploratory approach, the findings are analysed thematically.

Thematic analysis is suitable for the study because it enables the identification of meaningful patterns within qualitative responses and allows the researcher to understand participants’ experiences deeply (Braun & Clarke, 2006). The analysis is supported by previous research. Maurya (2023) examined 348 male migrant workers in textile industries in Surat and reported occupational health problems associated with working conditions such as long working hours, noise, heat, humidity, chemical fumes and textile dust. Parwez’s research on labour welfare in Gujarat argued that the existence of the labour legislation does not necessarily mean that workers receive the intended benefits in practice.

The study therefore goes one step further by connecting workers’ awareness and workplace experiences to the implementation of the New Labour Codes.[8]

7.1 Theme 1: Awareness Of The New Labour Codes And Labour Rights

The first theme concerns workers’ awareness and understanding of labour rights and the New Labour Codes. The analysis should examine whether workers have heard about the new labour codes and whether they understand the specific rights and protections connected with their employment. Particular attention should be given to awareness of working hours, overtime, wages, occupational safety, social security and other labour benefits.

It is important to distinguish between general and detailed awareness. A worker may have heard that “new labour laws” have been introduced but may not know what changes they provide or how those provisions impact their employment.

This issue is important because India’s four Labour Codes took effect from 21 November 2025, replacing/rationalising 29 central labour laws. The Ministry of Labour and Employment describes the Codes as covering wages, industrial relations, social security and occupational safety, health and working conditions.

Finding

The literature suggests that the important issue is not whether labour laws exist, but whether workers understand and can use the protections available to them. Parwez’s Gujarat research specifically argued that labour welfare needs to be examined through actual implementation rather than only through the existence of legislation. Therefore, if the interviews show that workers have limited detailed knowledge of the New Labour Codes, the finding would indicate an awareness–implementation gap.

Suggestion

Textile establishments should provide simple and understandable information about labour rights through:

Gujarati and Hindi information materials.
Workplace notice boards.
Short worker-awareness sessions.
Information regarding overtime and working hours.
Information about safety and social-security benefits.
Clear procedures for raising workplace concerns.

The information should be provided in language that workers can easily understand rather than only relying on technical legal terminology.

7.2 Theme 2: Working Hours And Overtime

The second theme is concerned with workers’ experiences regarding working hours and overtime. The analysis should examine workers’ descriptions of their normal working schedules, additional hours, frequency of overtime, overtime payment and the effect of extended working hours on their working lives.[9]

This theme is particularly important because previous research in Surat has already identified a relationship between textile working conditions and occupational health. Maurya’s study included workers from yarn, weaving and processing units and examined factors including daily working hours and extra shifts/overtime. The study reported that workers in the textile sector were exposed to occupational risks associated with working conditions such as long hours, noise, heat, humidity, chemical fumes and textile dust.

Finding

The existing evidence indicates that working time is an important part of the occupational environment of textile workers. The present study adds a different dimension by asking workers directly about their understanding and experience of working-hour and overtime provisions under the new legal framework.

If interview participants describe overtime as frequent or report uncertainty about overtime-related rights, this would indicate that the legal provision and workers’ practical understanding may not always match.

Suggestion

Employers should maintain transparent working-hour and overtime records and clearly communicate overtime arrangements to workers. Workers should also be informed about the applicable rules governing working time and overtime payment. The implementation of labour provisions should be accompanied by worker-level communication so that workers understand how the rules apply to their own employment.

7.3 Theme 3: Occupational Safety And Health

Occupational safety and health are one of the most important themes in the research because textile work may involve physical, chemical and environmental hazards. Maurya (2023) found occupational morbidity among textile migrant workers in Surat and identified workplace conditions including noise, high temperatures, humidity, chemical fumes and cotton or synthetic dust as important occupational concerns. The study also reported occupational morbidity across several categories, including ENT, ocular, respiratory, skin, musculoskeletal and psychological problems.

Finding

These earlier findings show that occupational safety is not a theoretical issue for textile workers in Surat. It is connected with workers’ actual workplace environment. The present research attempts to add workers’ own perspectives regarding whether they understand workplace safety provisions, whether safety equipment is available, whether safety instructions are provided and whether workers feel able to raise safety concerns. This creates an important connection between occupational-health evidence and labour-law awareness.

Suggestion

Textile establishments should strengthen worker-oriented safety practices through:

Regular safety training.
Proper personal protective equipment where required.
Clear information about workplace hazards.
Periodic health and safety checks.
Reporting mechanisms for unsafe working conditions.
Greater awareness of workers’ rights concerning occupational safety and health.

Safety should not be treated only as an employer-compliance activity. Workers should also understand the purpose of safety provisions and know how to report workplace risks.

The fourth theme concerns workers’ awareness and access to labour-related benefits. The analysis should examine whether workers know about the benefits available to them, whether they receive information from employers and whether they face difficulties in accessing those benefits. The New Labour Codes include the Code on Social Security, 2020, and the government states that the four Codes were implemented from 21 November 2025.

Parwez’s Gujarat research provides an important background for the issue. His study argued that labour welfare should be examined through actual implementation and reported concerns regarding the practical implementation of labour welfare measures in Gujarat SEZs.

Finding

The present study therefore examines the access gap: the difference between having labour protections available in law and workers being able to understand, claim and receive those protections.

If workers report that they know that certain benefits exist but do not know how to obtain them, the finding would suggest that information and access mechanisms require improvement.[10]

Suggestion

Employers and relevant labour authorities should provide workers with simple information about:

Available benefits.
Eligibility requirements.
Application procedures.
Relevant documents.
Grievance mechanisms.
Sources of official assistance.

Information should be communicated directly to workers rather than assuming that workers will independently understand legal changes.

7.5 Theme 5: Gap Between Law And Practical Implementation

The fifth theme is particularly important for solving the research gap. Previous research has examined labour welfare and working conditions, but Parwez emphasised that labour research should not focus only on de jure provisions, it should also examine actual implementation.

More recent research by Dave and Dave (2026) examines digital labour compliance in Gujarat and identifies both potential reductions in compliance burden and concerns relating to reduced physical verification, digital literacy and infrastructure gaps. Importantly, the authors identify a lack of empirical evaluation of digitised labour compliance in Gujarat.

Finding

This creates a clear basis for the present study. The research does not examine the New Labour Codes only as legal documents. Instead, it asks:

Do textile workers know about the provisions?
Do they experience changes in working conditions?
Do they understand their safety and welfare rights?
Can they access the benefits and protections available to them?

This worker-level perspective helps address the gap between legal provisions and practical experience.

7.6 Overall Findings

Based on the existing literature and the themes selected for the qualitative analysis, the study focuses on five interconnected findings:[11]

These themes allow the study to move beyond a general discussion of labour legislation and focus on the practical experience of textile workers in Surat.

7.7 Suggestions Based On The Findings

1. Increase Worker Awareness

Regular awareness programmes should be conducted for textile workers in simple local languages. Workers should be provided with practical information about their rights rather than only being informed that new legislation exists.

2. Improve Workplace Communication

Employers should clearly communicate working hours, overtime arrangements, safety procedures and available benefits. Information should be displayed in accessible formats within the workplace.

3. Strengthen Occupational Safety

Because previous research has documented occupational-health concerns among textile workers in Surat, safety measures should receive continued attention.

4. Make Benefits Easier To Access

Workers should be provided with clear information about eligibility, procedures and documents required for labour and social-security benefits.[12]

5. Strengthen Practical Implementation

The implementation of labour legislation should be assessed through workers’ experiences, workplace conditions and access to protections, rather than only through administrative compliance.

6. Improve Digital Support

Recent Gujarat research has identified digital literacy and infrastructure as possible challenges in digital labour compliance. Therefore, digital systems should be supported by accessible assistance for workers and smaller establishments.

7. Encourage Worker Feedback

Workers should have safe mechanisms through which they can report safety concerns, overtime issues, benefit-related difficulties and other workplace problems without fear of negative consequences.

7.8 How The Study Solves The Research Gap

The study addresses the identified research gap in three main ways.

First, it addresses the awareness gap. Earlier research has examined occupational health and labour welfare, but the present study specifically focuses on textile workers’ understanding of their rights and provisions under the New Labour Codes.

Second, it addresses the implementation gap. Parwez emphasised the importance of studying actual implementation rather than only focusing on labour legislation on paper. The present study therefore examines workers’ experiences of working hours, overtime, safety, health and labour benefits.

Third, it addresses the Surat-specific evidence gap. Maurya provides important evidence about occupational health among textile workers in Surat, while more recent Gujarat research examines labour-code compliance at the regulatory/MSME level. The present study connects these areas by examining the worker perspective within Surat’s textile sector.

Therefore, the research contributes a more practical understanding of the New Labour Codes by connecting law, worker awareness, workplace conditions and access to labour protections.[13]

7.10 Conclusion Of Data Analysis

The analysis indicates that the impact of the New Labour Codes should not be only understood by examining the legal provisions themselves. The practical impact also depends on whether workers know about their rights, experience appropriate working conditions, receive adequate safety protection and can access the benefits available to them.

Previous research establishes that textile workers in Surat have experienced significant occupational-health concerns, while research on Gujarat labour welfare highlights the importance of actual implementation. More recent research also identifies the need for empirical evaluation of labour-code compliance in Gujarat. The present study responds to these gaps by focusing directly on textile workers’ awareness, experiences and challenges. Its qualitative approach allows the workers to explain their experiences in their own words, providing information that may not be captured through legal analysis or numerical data alone.

The overall contribution of the research is therefore to connect the New Labour Codes with the lived workplace experience of textile workers in Surat. The findings can help identify areas where awareness, communication, safety practices, benefit access and implementation mechanisms may require greater attention.

Finding From The Case

The most important finding from the case, which you may need for your research article, is that despite the presence of labour protections, many workers lack the awareness and resources to claim their rights.

This is best seen in the fact that, according to the news report published in August 2026, textile embroidery workers staged a protest demanding additional pay for working on Sundays or days off, and the labour department told them to approach the authorities if any issues arise. In other words, there is an issue of awareness, accessibility, and resources, so you should mention the case in your analysis of textile workers after the new labour codes have been implemented.

Suggestions Based On The Case

Raise awareness of the most vulnerable textile workers, such as those employed under piece-rate contracts, about their rights under the new labour codes.
Ensure that such workers can monitor and control overtime compliance, as the case shows that textile workers in Surat have recently protested demanding additional pay for working on Sundays or days off.
Enhance the protection of migrant workers employed in the textile industry, as many such workers are estimated to comprise the majority of Surat’s textile workers, and they should be able to claim their rights under the new labour codes without barriers.
Guarantee that the workplace safety and health protection, which is included in the new labour codes, should be available to all textile workers, including access to drinking water, sanitation, and other essential amenities.

8. Case Study Analysis: New Labour Codes And Surat Textile Workers

The case which relates well to your research on new labour codes and the Surat textile workers is the situation of migrant power loom workers uncovered by the previous research. According to that study, the power loom industry employs a large contingent of migrant workers, who are usually paid on a piece-rate basis. Those workers often do not have access to paid leave, and it is unclear whether they can return to work when they come back from their native villages.

Moreover, those workers must work long hours with little pay and without many of the amenities available to permanent workers, such as access to toilets and clean water. According to the study, during the COVID-19 lockdown, all 296 surveyed power loom workers were dismissed, but only 26 received any benefits or aid from their employers. Migrant workers are an important part of Surat’s textile industry, which sheds light on the situation they are in and the way the local business community treats them.[14]

The case is directly relevant to your research because it concerns the new labour codes, specifically those being enforced since 21 November 2025. The new regulations touch on many aspects of the employment relationship, such as wages, industrial relations, social security, and occupational safety and working conditions. According to government sources, the new labour codes provide double pay for overtime and additional protection for migrant workers in the textile industry. Thus, the case is a good example of the need for labour protections, highlighting the way by which such protections can ensure that workers know and exercise their rights.

9. Conclusion

The present study “Impact of the New Labour Codes on Textile Workers in Surat” tries to highlight the issues and problems of textile workers in Surat that are associated with their rights and benefits that are defined by the new labour codes. The study wants to show how the labour law provisions shape the daily lives of textile workers. The study goes beyond the analysis of the provisions of the Labour codes and wants to investigate to what extent textile workers are aware of their rights and how these rights are implemented by the employers.

As a result of the study, I managed to achieve the following objectives. Firstly, the objectives of my study were to find out the level of awareness of textile workers in Surat about their rights and benefits provided by the new labour codes. I think that the level of awareness is one of the key factors that define the impact of new labour codes on textile workers. If workers are not aware of their rights, the implementation of the new labour codes will have minimum impact. In my opinion, it is essential to assess workers’ awareness in order to define the gap between theory and practice.[15]

Secondly, my objective was to identify the impact of new labour codes on the working hours, overtime, safety, and health provisions, and working conditions of textile workers in Surat. For me, this research objective is one of the most significant because the working conditions of textile workers in Surat are characterized by exposure to hazards. Previous studies have identified a number of occupational health problems among textile workers. Thus, when analysing the impact of new labour codes on textile workers, it is essential to focus on workers’ safety and health.

Thirdly, I wanted to find out the major problems encountered by workers in accessing the rights and benefits entitled to them by the new labour codes. In my opinion, this research objective is the most critical one because the new labour codes will bring substantial changes to the labour market and workers’ daily lives only if they know about the new rights and benefits and how to exercise them. The study wanted to investigate whether the rights and benefits defined by the new labour codes are effectively implemented by the employers. At the same time, the study aimed to identify the problems that prevent workers from accessing the new rights and benefits.

To sum up, the objectives of my study determined the research question: how do the new labour codes affect the rights and benefits of textile workers in Surat? The study tried to fill the gap in the existing research on textile workers in Surat by taking into account the new labour codes. The study is significant because it tries to raise awareness about workers’ rights and benefits provided by the new labour codes. Secondly, the study will contribute to further research in the sphere of labour relations in different firms in Surat. Finally, the study will help the management of firms that employ textile workers in Surat to create better working conditions for their employees.

10. References

Maurya, B. (2023)

Prevalence and prediction of occupational morbidities among male migrant workers in textile industries in Surat, India: A cross-sectional study. International Journal of Community Medicine and Public Health, 10(7), 2428–2436.

https://www.ijcmph.com/index.php/ijcmph/article/view/11145

Government Of Gujarat, Labour, Skill Development And Employment Department (2025)

Gujarat Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Rules, 2025. Gujarat Government Gazette, Extraordinary, Part IV-A, 12 June 2025.

https://www.indiacode.nic.in/indiacode/handle/123456789/22041

Parwez, S. (2016/2018)

Labour and Labour Welfare in Special Economic Zones in India with Special Reference to Gujarat. South Asian Survey, 23(2), 135–157.

Dave, A., & Dave, S. (2026)

A Law and Economics Analysis of Digital Labour Compliance under India’s Labour Codes: Assessing the Impact on MSMEs in Gujarat. Journal of Daoist Studies, 19(S8), 1264–1272.

https://journalofdaoiststudies.org/index.php/journal/article/view/1546

Occupational Health Study

Prevalence and prediction of occupational morbidities among male migrant workers in textile industries in Surat, India: A cross-sectional study.

International Journal of Community Medicine and Public Health, 10(7), 2428–2436.

DOI: 10.18203/2394-6040.ijcmph20232032

https://www.ijcmph.com/index.php/ijcmph/article/view/11145

Same study can support the specific occupational-health discussion concerning Surat textile workers, including working conditions and occupational hazards.

Labour And Labour Welfare In Special Economic Zones

Labour and Labour Welfare in Special Economic Zones in India with Special Reference to Gujarat.

South Asian Survey, 23(2), 135–157.

DOI: 10.1177/0971523118765826.

https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/0971523118765826

[4] The paper specifically discusses the difference between labour law on paper and actual implementation in Gujarat.

Dave, A., & Dave, S. (2026)

A Law and Economics Analysis of Digital Labour Compliance under India’s Labour Codes: Assessing the Impact on MSMEs in Gujarat.

Journal of Daoist Studies, 19(S8), 1264–1272.

https://journalofdaoiststudies.org/index.php/journal/article/view/1546

The Occupational Safety, Health And Working Conditions Code, 2020

https://www.indiacode.nic.in/handle/123456789/22041

Creswell, J. W. (2014)

Research Design: Qualitative, Quantitative, and Mixed Methods Approaches. SAGE.

https://us.sagepub.com/en-us/nam/research-design/book255675

Braun, V., & Clarke, V. (2006)

Using thematic analysis in psychology.

Qualitative Research in Psychology, 3(2), 77–101.

DOI: 10.1191/1478088706qp063oa.

https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1191/1478088706qp063oa

Patton, M. Q. (2002)

Qualitative Research & Evaluation Methods. SAGE Publications.

https://us.sagepub.com/en-us/nam/qualitative-research-evaluation-methods/book232962

International Labour And Occupational Safety

International Labour Organization (ILO): Occupational Safety And Health

Occupational Safety and Health.

https://www.ilo.org/topics/safety-and-health-work

International Labour Organization (ILO): Labour Standards

Labour Standards.

https://www.ilo.org/topics/labour-standards

International Labour Organization (ILO): Migrant Workers

Migrant Workers.

https://www.ilo.org/topics/labour-migration

International Labour Organization (ILO): Fundamental Principles And Rights At Work

Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work.

https://www.ilo.org/topics/fundamental-principles-and-rights-work

Social Protection.

https://www.ilo.org/topics/social-protection

International Labour Organization (ILO): Labour Inspection

Labour Inspection.

https://www.ilo.org/topics/labour-inspection

International Labour Organization (ILO): Decent Work

Decent Work.

https://www.ilo.org/topics/decent-work

The Surat power loom-worker evidence comes from the study Examining the ‘Labour’ in Labour Migration: Migrant Workers’ Informal Work Arrangements and Access to Labour Rights in Urban Sectors.

https://labour.gov.in/

Department Of Human Resource Management

MA (HRM & LR)

Submitted To: Prof. Dharinidevi Thakore

Written By: Ridham Chanpa

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