Tirupur is facing a labor shortage. While there is a demand for labor, it is mainly for skilled jobs including tailoring. At the same time, attrition remains high -- as much as 15 to 17 per cent for women. In recent years, the sector has been managing with migrant workforce.

Now, Tirupur knitwear sector will get skilled workers from Orissa rather than untrained laborers. Tirupur will get specifically trained manpower from Orissa for apparel production. Training will be provided by the Orissa Skill Development Authority. The organization already imparts various knitwear industry-specific lessons through institutes in Orissa.

Experts from Tirupur will visit Orissa to oversee training programs and suggest changes that need to be incorporated to suit knitwear production. The initiative will thus provide an impetus to the apparel cluster in Tirupur, which does not have to train a rookie worker to cater to the specific needs in the production process and at the same time the trained workforce in Orissa will gets quality employment.

Tirupur is India’s largest textile exporting hub. It employs six lakh people and is looking to add more. Its export turnover is about Rs 25,000 crores. The knitwear hub is targeting a turnover of one lakh crore rupees by 2020.