Surat is the country's biggest man-made fabric (MMF) centre having over 6.5 lakh powerloom weaving machines, employing over 8 lakh workers manufactures over three crore meter of fabric per day. The Powerloom weavers owing to dwindling demand for fabrics and the rising price of yarn have decided to keep their units closed for two days a week to cut down production.

A meeting in this connection was held on Friday where weavers from various industrial areas including Ved Road, Katargam, Sarthana, Bhestan, Unn, Udhana-Magdalla, Varachha, Kapodara and Bhatena have unanimously decided to keep their units shut for two days in a week. The decision has been taken to reduce over-production in the weaving units.

Leaders of the powerloom weaving sector said that around 90% of the weaving units in the city have implemented the two days closure starting from April 1. The weavers are also likely to take decision on cutting down the wages of the textile workers in the coming days.

Devesh Patel, president of Ved Road Weavers' Association said that production of polyester fabric is all set to reduce due to the two-day closure of units in a week. The weavers will keep their units closed on weekends in order to bring down production.

According to Industry sources, the demand of polyester fabric in domestic and international market has decreased in the last two months following economic downturn and the increasing prices of fuel and inflation.

President of Federation of Gujarat Weavers' Association (FOGWA), Ashok Jirawala said that the two days closure has been implemented in the weaving units starting from April 1 to arrest the dwindling demand of fabrics and increasing prices of yarn. The yarn spinners have been taking the benefit of the anti-dumping duty on various yarns imported into the country.