Panipat, a major hub for textile recycling, processes over 1 million tons of used clothing annually, supplying global brands. However, the industry faces serious safety issues, with reports indicating that workers frequently suffer life-altering injuries due to inadequate machinery safeguards. Activists estimate that at least one worker loses a limb daily, highlighting the urgent need for improved safety measures.
The lack of safety gear and training for workers is alarming, as many are employed informally and struggle to secure medical treatment after accidents. Despite regulations intended to protect workers, enforcement remains weak, raising concerns about the industry's impact on labor rights and worker safety in India’s second-largest employment sector.