MORBI — Ceramics production in Morbi, the center of India's ceramics industry, shut down on March 15 after propane and natural gas shortages tied to a standoff on the Strait of Hormuz halted operations at most of the town's factories. At least 450 of the more than 600 ceramics companies in Morbi have been forced to close, idling workers at a hub that produces about 80 percent of India's tiles, toilets, bathtubs and wash basins.

Morbi's ceramics industry employs more than 400,000 people, more than half of them migrants from Indian states such as Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. Pradeep Kumar was among those who lost their jobs when the shutdown began on March 15.

"We had shut down the units till April 15, hoping that the Middle East crisis would be resolved by then," said Manoj Arvadiya, president of the Morbi Ceramic Manufacturers Association. "But even today, only around 100 units have opened, and most have still not begun the manufacturing process. For at least another 15 days, it is likely to remain the same."

"The closure has impacted 200,000 workers, with more than a quarter of them forced to go back to their homes in other states," Arvadiya said.

"About 25 percent of Morbi's ceramics are exported to countries in the Middle East, Africa and Europe, with a net worth of $1.5bn. But exports are now delayed and, in some cases, completely halted, especially to Middle Eastern countries, due to the production slowdown over the past month," said Siddharth Bopaliya, a third-generation manufacturer and trader.

Factories that rely on propane remain shut. Natural gas is mostly available in Morbi, but new connections are priced at 93 rupees per kilo, while existing users receive it at about 70 rupees per kilo.

"All manufacturing units in Morbi rely on propane and natural gas to fire kilns at high temperatures. Around 60 percent of manufacturers use propane because it is comparatively cheaper," Bopaliya said.

Iran has shut the Strait of Hormuz to traffic, disrupting global fuel supplies and raising oil prices. A ceasefire agreed by Iran and the United States after a month of fighting expired on Wednesday.

Labour rights activist Chirag Chavda raised separate concerns about conditions in the industry. "Silicosis is widespread in Morbi because workers are routinely exposed to fine silica dust generated during ceramic production," he said. "Even workers not directly involved in moulding or kiln work often inhale silica particles due to poor ventilation and prolonged exposure across factory spaces," Chavda said. "Most ceramic companies do not follow government regulations regarding the safety of workers," he said. "Such workers are denied social security under various Indian laws regarding salaries or pension funds, since doing so would establish proof of employment," Chavda said. "As a result, even after working for years, workers are deprived of their labour rights due to a lack of evidence, leaving employers with little to no legal accountability," he said.