Tue Mar 25 13:42:45 UTC 2025: **Tiruchi Ancillary Industries Face Severe Labor Shortage**
TIRUCHI, March 25, 2025 – Ancillary industries supporting Bharat Heavy Electrical Limited (BHEL) in Tiruchi district are grappling with a critical shortage of skilled and unskilled labor, threatening to delay project deadlines. The problem stems from a decline in orders over the past decade, which forced many of the 425 micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in the area to shut down, leaving a significant skills gap.
While a recent surge in orders from BHEL has revived some businesses – with approximately 10 previously closed units reopening – the remaining 150 active units are struggling to fill roughly 35,000 vacant positions. Currently, only about 15,000 workers are employed in the sector across various industrial areas.
The demand is particularly high for welders and turners, essential for producing high-quality pressure parts for boilers, a major component of BHEL’s orders. Companies are actively recruiting, posting job notices for positions such as fitters, welders, turners, and CNC operators, and even sourcing workers from other states, including Odisha, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal. However, these newly recruited workers often lack the necessary skills and require on-the-job training.
R. Kanagasabapathi, former Chairman of Tiruchi Trade Centre, highlighted the challenge, emphasizing the reliance on training institute graduates to fill the immediate need. K. Rajesh Kannan, a local industrial entrepreneur, underscored the importance of skilled labor in meeting quality standards and deadlines. The labor shortage poses a significant threat to the timely completion of BHEL orders and the overall health of the Tiruchi ancillary industry.
First Piper 