Thousands of migrant workers from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar are reportedly returning home from Surat, Gujarat, amid growing tensions between workers and employers in the city’s textile and embroidery industries. The movement, described as the ‘Gaon Chalo Andolan’, has raised questions about working conditions, wage deductions and weekly holidays.
However, the departures cannot all be attributed to workers being forced out of Gujarat. The movement coincides with preparations for Diwali and Chhath Puja, when many migrant workers traditionally travel to their hometowns.
What Is the Gaon Chalo Andolan?
The Gaon Chalo Andolan is a campaign encouraging migrant workers in Surat’s textile and embroidery units to return to their villages if employers fail to address their workplace concerns.
The campaign gained attention in early October 2026, following disagreements over the implementation of labour rules and assurances given to workers during earlier protests.
Labour representatives have urged workers to consider staying in their hometowns for an extended period if employers do not meet their demands. The strategy is intended to put pressure on factory owners by highlighting the potential consequences of labour shortages.
The campaign is not simply about workers leaving Surat. It is also an attempt to push employers towards better compliance with labour regulations.
Workers Allege Long Hours and Salary Deductions
Some workers have complained about extended working hours, inadequate rest and the absence of a guaranteed weekly holiday.
Workers have also alleged that salaries were deducted when they requested leave and that some employees lost their jobs after raising concerns about workplace conditions.
A major demand is the implementation of labour rules, including provisions relating to weekly holidays and wages. Worker representatives have encouraged employees to submit formal complaints to labour authorities and seek clarification from employers about compliance.
These allegations reflect workers’ accounts and require case-by-case examination by the relevant authorities. Employers’ responses and the extent of violations may differ across factories.
Are Workers Really Being Forced to Leave Gujarat?
The heavy crowds at Surat and Udhna railway stations have fuelled speculation about a mass exodus of migrant workers.
However, reports from the ground suggest that several workers are travelling home for Diwali and Chhath Puja, as they do every year. The festival season is therefore an important factor behind the increased passenger movement.
At the same time, the labour dispute has added another dimension to the departures. Some workers may be leaving because of dissatisfaction with their working conditions, while others may simply be taking their customary festival break.
There is no clear official confirmation that all the workers travelling home are being forced out of Gujarat or that the reported movement represents a coordinated mass departure.
Why Surat’s Textile Industry Depends on Migrant Workers
Surat is one of India’s major textile and embroidery centres, with factories and workshops relying heavily on migrant labour from Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and other states.
Workers operate machinery, handle embroidery, support textile production and perform several other tasks essential to the industry’s daily operations.
A prolonged labour shortage could affect production schedules, delivery commitments and factory operations. For workers, however, the dispute highlights the importance of fair wages, reasonable working hours, weekly rest and accessible grievance mechanisms.
The challenge for employers and authorities is to resolve workplace disputes without allowing them to escalate into a prolonged confrontation.
What Happens Next?
The impact of the Gaon Chalo Andolan will become clearer after the festival season, when employers can assess how many workers return to Surat.
If workers’ concerns remain unresolved, the campaign could continue to put pressure on textile and embroidery units. Labour department intervention, effective enforcement of applicable rules and dialogue between employers and workers will be important in resolving the dispute.
Summary
Surat’s Gaon Chalo Andolan has brought renewed attention to complaints about long working hours, salary deductions and weekly holidays in the textile and embroidery industries. Some migrant workers are returning to Uttar Pradesh and Bihar amid the dispute, but many are also travelling for Diwali and Chhath Puja. There is no official confirmation that workers are being forced out of Gujarat on a mass scale.
