Pradeep Kumar, a 29-year-old laborer who spent seven years loading clay, quartz, and sand into the high-temperature kilns of a Morbi factory, exemplifies the human cost of this geopolitical friction. Working 9am shifts in extreme heat without protective gear such as gloves or masks, Kumar was terminated on March 15. The cessation of operations at his factory, driven by an acute shortage of propane and natural gas, forced him to transport his wife and three children back to Hardoi district in Uttar Pradesh. Kumar now faces the looming threat of a debt trap, having already borrowed 20,000 rupees ($214) from a relative for house repairs as his meager savings evaporate.
The ceramics industry in Morbi, which produces 80 percent of India’s tiles, toilets, bathtubs, and washbasins, is valued at $6 billion. Approximately 25 percent of this output, worth $1.5 billion, is exported to the Middle East, Africa, and Europe—trade that is now halted or severely delayed. While natural gas remains partially available at 70 to 93 rupees per kilo, 60 percent of manufacturers favor propane for its lower cost. However, the seizure of an Iranian cargo vessel by the United States and Tehran’s subsequent refusal to engage in peace talks in Pakistan have ensured that the fuel supply remain disrupted. Manoj Arvadiya, president of the Morbi Ceramic Manufacturers Association, noted that although a fragile ceasefire recently expired, only 100 units have tentatively reopened, with most failing to resume actual manufacturing.
Beyond the economic fallout, the crisis has unmasked a systemic public health emergency. Ankur Singh, a 27-year-old worker who returned to Patna, Bihar, was recently diagnosed with silicosis, an incurable lung disease caused by the inhalation of silica dust. Labor rights activist Chirag Chavda asserts that the disease is widespread in Morbi due to poor ventilation and the absence of safety regulations. Workers like Harish Zala, who contracted the disease after two decades in the factories, report a total lack of employer accountability. Many companies deliberately withhold appointment letters, salary slips, and identity cards to deny workers legal proof of employment, thereby stripping them of social security, pensions, and the right to demand legal entitlements.
As the standoff on the Strait of Hormuz continues, those who remain in Morbi, such as 56-year-old Sushma Devi, survive on the margins, collecting dry twigs and discarded plywood to cook basic meals of rice and potatoes provided by struggling employers. The plight of these hundreds of thousands of workers underscores a grim reality: the intersection of international warfare and industrial negligence has left India’s migrant workforce vulnerable to starvation, debt, and terminal illness, with no clear resolution in sight as the kilns of Morbi remain cold.
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