BHEL's Tiruchi suppliers experience severe labor shortages

Bharat Heavy Electrical Limited (BHEL) in Tiruchi is facing a serious shortage of workers in its ancillary industries. The area is home to around 425 micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), many of which have struggled financially due to a lack of orders. More than 100 of these businesses have shut down or become non-performing assets. Currently, about 150 units are operating successfully, thanks to new orders from BHEL. Some businesses that had closed due to financial issues have even reopened. Despite this positive trend, there is a notable lack of available labor. While companies need around 50,000 workers, only about 15,000 are currently employed. Employers are seeking skilled and unskilled workers, especially fitters, welders, and turners. Many companies have posted job notices searching for staff. R. Kanagasabapathi, former Chairman of the Tiruchi Trade Centre, mentioned that they are hiring fresh graduates from Industrial Training Institutes to fill the gaps. Orders from BHEL mainly focus on manufacturing boiler parts, which require experienced workers for quality production. To address the shortage, companies are looking to recruit workers from other states like Odisha, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal. However, most of these new recruits are unskilled and need additional training before they can contribute effectively.