Tiruppur Model: 34 Years of Industrial Harmony

The Tiruppur knitwear industry’s rise from a domestic manufacturing base to a global export hub is built on decades of strong labour relations and collective effort. Since the 1980s, trade unions and industry stakeholders have worked together to protect worker welfare while supporting industrial growth.

A key turning point came in 1984 with the historic wage struggle, which led to the establishment of structured collective bargaining. From 1987 onwards, regular wage negotiations between employer associations and trade unions created a culture of dialogue, ensuring stability and uninterrupted growth.

The formation of the Tiruppur Exporters Association under the leadership of A. Sakthivel further strengthened this model, aligning worker welfare with global business expectations.

Over 34 years, this collaborative framework has enabled Tiruppur to maintain industrial harmony, making it a globally recognized example of sustainable growth driven by partnership, trust, and shared responsibility.

Insights shared by Kumar Duraiswamy, Joint Secretary, Tiruppur Exporters Association