No more lungi dances; headload workers shift to trousers

Thousands of headload workers affiliated with the trade union in Ernakulam have adopted a new dress code, trading in their traditional lungis for black trousers and name badges in an effort to project a more professional image.

- HD Bureau

The move affects nearly 50,000 workers across the state and has been introduced under the banner of the labour union aligned with the left-wing federation.

Union leaders say that the shift aims to modernise the workforce's image and reduce the stigma that has long been associated with manual loading and unloading operations.

Members will now wear blue shirts paired with black trousers, and each worker will display a badge showing name, registration number and union branch.

According to the union organising the change, the new uniform will help signal organisation, accountability and pride in the workforce. Workers themselves appear to welcome the change: one porter based at the Ernakulam market described the badge as “a mark of identity that makes me feel seen rather than invisible”.