On 18 and 19 April 2016, garment workers in Bengaluru, most of them women, walked out of factories and blocked Hosur Road and other arterial roads. They were protesting a February 2016 rule that barred withdrawal of the employer's share of provident fund (PF) before age 58. On the second day buses were burnt and a police station was attacked, police used lathis and tear gas, and more than 100 people were arrested. The Centre first postponed the rule and then cancelled it on the evening of 19 April.
Key takeaways
- A Labour Ministry notification of 10 February 2016 would have held back the employer's PF share, 3.67% of wages, until a worker turned 58.
- The walkout began on 18 April 2016 at Shahi Exports units in Bommanahalli and spread across Bengaluru's garment belts. No union called it.
- On 19 April buses were burnt and Hebbagodi police station was attacked. Police used lathis and tear gas, and by that evening had arrested more than 100 people.
- Labour Minister Bandaru Dattatreya cancelled the notification on the evening of 19 April. No court outcome of the 2016 cases has been reported.
Background: two PF changes in two months
The April protest followed an earlier retreat. In the 2016-17 Budget, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley proposed taxing 60% of EPF savings made after 1 April 2016 at withdrawal, unless the money went into a pension annuity. After criticism from unions and parties, he withdrew it in the Lok Sabha on 8 March, saying the government would "do a comprehensive review" Business Today/PTI.
Separately, on 10 February 2016 the Labour Ministry amended the EPF Scheme, 1952. A member out of work for more than two months could withdraw only their own contribution and its interest; the employer's share would be paid only on maturity PTI. After objections from unions, the ministry put the rule on hold until 30 April PTI.
Government's position The ministry said the aim was "to provide a minimum social security to the workers at the time of retirement". It said over 80% of claims settled by EPFO were premature withdrawals, "treating the EPF accounts as savings accounts, and not a Social Security instrument", and that the change had "the consent of Trade Unions" PIB release via StaffNews.
Why PF mattered to garment workers
The city police chief put Bengaluru's garment workforce at more than 12 lakh PTI; IndiaSpend estimated about half a million, mostly women, with no pensions, job security or health insurance IndiaSpend. Workers said they relied on PF for children's education and emergencies. A Jockey worker of 18 years told The News Minute: "They are telling us that the money will go to our kids when we die" The News Minute.
CITU district secretary M Lingaraju said few stay in the industry until 58: "You will find no senior citizen working in the sector" Deccan Chronicle. The Garment and Textile Workers' Union (GATWU) called the PF rule "merely a trigger" for anger over workplace harassment, and said supervisors often lock gates until workers meet daily targets The Quint/TNM.
How it started
GATWU says most workers learnt of the rule only when people who had left jobs were told at PF offices they would get just their own share. The union was planning a protest when, on 16 April, the Kannada daily Vijaya Karnataka reported that workers should withdraw their PF before the end of April or have it blocked until 58 PUCL-WSS report. The Home Minister later said social media messages had warned workers they would lose their PF if they did not claim it immediately Deccan Herald.
Timeline
Walkout at Bommanahalli
Thousands walk out of Shahi Exports, K Mohan and smaller units and head for the EPF office The News Minute. PUCL says 15,000 to 20,000 gathered in Bommanahalli alone before the protest spread to Peenya and Jalahalli Citizen Matters/PUCL.
First lathicharge
Bommanahalli stays blocked for about six hours. Police lathicharge and use tear gas The News Minute.
Roads blocked again; rule put on hold
Workers block Hosur and Iblur roads. Workers in Ramanagara district block the Mysuru-Bengaluru highway against Monday's lathicharge The News Minute. In New Delhi, Dattatreya defers the rule to 31 July PTI.
Hebbagodi police station attacked
Protesters stone the station and burn seized vehicles there. At least three buses are set on fire, and stone-pelting is reported at Bannerghatta, Jalahalli Cross and Electronics City PTI.
Notification cancelled
In Hyderabad Dattatreya says the notification "is cancelled" PTI. Police ban gatherings of more than 10 people citywide for three days IANS.
Formal withdrawal, state probe
A ministry release confirms withdrawal "with immediate effect" PIB via StaffNews. The state orders a probe into who was behind the violence Deccan Herald.
How it turned violent
Accounts differ on who used force first. PUCL says workers sat peacefully on the highways until police lathicharged at about 1.30 pm on 18 April, and that men threw stones after seeing women beaten by male officers Citizen Matters/PUCL. The News Minute reported some stone-pelting near the Shahi premises that morning The News Minute.
City Police Commissioner N S Megharikh said more than 1.25 lakh people took part on 19 April. He said police fired 100 tear gas shells "as the mob resorted to violence", an inspector fired one round in the air at Jalahalli, and "many anti-social elements joined the protesters" there Deccan Chronicle. He told IANS that 95 buses were damaged, 11 fully burnt IANS. Claim · PUCL, citing Kannada media A girl student passing Hebbagodi was hit when police allegedly fired in the air and needed surgery PUCL-WSS report. No official confirmation was found.
Both accounts
Workers' and civil rights account
PUCL Karnataka and Women Against Sexual Violence and State Repression (WSS), investigating at GATWU's request, say the protests were "largely peaceful" apart from stray incidents. They say no women police were deployed although most protesters were women, arrested workers were beaten in custody, and omnibus FIRs naming "Shahi Garment Workers" allowed arrests at will. They say attempt-to-murder charges appear aimed at blocking quick bail PUCL-WSS report. Activist Ruth Manorama called the caning of women "absolutely atrocious" Deccan Chronicle.
Police and state government account
Home Minister G Parameshwara said police showed "remarkable restrain" and that the protest lacked permission The News Minute. He said "anti-social elements" exploited it and that LPG cylinders stored beside Hebbagodi police station could have caused "a huge explosion" without police action Deccan Herald. A Peenya inspector told PUCL that police used force only after being attacked, and that attempt-to-murder charges followed attacks on bus passengers PUCL-WSS report.
Parameshwara denied a BJP charge that the Congress state government sponsored the protests to embarrass the Centre, and declined to comment on the Karnataka High Court's criticism of the police Deccan Herald.
The Centre and the unions
Government's position Dattatreya, Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Labour, said: "The reason is the request of trade unions. The earlier decision (to tighten the PF withdrawal norms) was also taken by the opinion of the trade unions." He said he would seek ratification from EPFO's Central Board of Trustees PTI. Bengaluru MP and Union Minister Ananth Kumar appealed to workers to end the protest PTI via Deccan Herald.
Unions said the norms had been tightened "unilaterally" Business Standard. AITUC general secretary D L Sachdeva said the government had no right to make workers keep their savings until 58 Mint via Cafemutual. GATWU's K R Jayaram called the rule "anti-worker" FashionUnited.
Arrests and cases
Counts rose over several days. The Quint reported 20 arrests by the afternoon of 19 April The Quint. That evening Megharikh said 116 people, including three women, had been arrested for rioting and damaging public property Deccan Chronicle; IANS quoted him as saying about 120 IANS. On 21 April Parameshwara said 42 cases had been booked in Bengaluru city and 12 in the rural division, with 249 arrested Deccan Herald. A Peenya inspector told PUCL that 91 were arrested there, including seven bystanders, under 10 FIRs PUCL-WSS report.
On 1 May Chief Minister Siddaramaiah called the protest "a historic and successful workers' movement" and said he would consult police on withdrawing cases. At the end of May, unconfirmed reports said almost 200 workers were still in jail Apparel Resources. No report confirming withdrawal of the cases, or any trial result, was found.
Outcome
- Policy: Notification cancelled on 19 April; full PF withdrawal, including the employer's share, restored.
- Deaths: None reported.
- Injuries: 65 police personnel and 41 others, per the police commissioner.
- Arrests: 249 by 21 April, per the Home Minister.
- Cases: 54, some with attempt-to-murder charges. Outcomes not reported.
- Inquiries: A state probe; the PUCL-WSS report Thread and Tension (2017).
Where things stand now
The issue returned in 2026. A new PF scheme dated 29 June 2026 makes workers who leave a job wait 12 months for the last 25% of their PF The News Minute. Garment workers protested in Maddur, Haveri and Bommanahalli in late September The News Minute, and on 30 September police detained more than 50 in Peenya, including GATWU president Pratibha R ANI.
Questions people ask
Why did Bengaluru garment workers protest in April 2016?
A February 2016 notification would have stopped workers leaving a job from withdrawing the employer's PF share until 58. Many garment workers rely on PF for emergencies and education.
Who organised the protest?
No union. PUCL and WSS say it was spontaneous and led mainly by women workers; unions later urged calm.
Did the government withdraw the PF rule?
Yes. Labour Minister Bandaru Dattatreya deferred it on 19 April 2016 and cancelled it that evening.
How many people were arrested?
Police said 116 by the evening of 19 April; the Home Minister said 249 by 21 April.
What happened to the cases?
The Chief Minister said in May 2016 he would consult police on withdrawing them. No outcome has been reported.
Sources
- The News Minute: Monday blues: Why thousands of garment factory workers blocked a major Bengaluru road, 18 Apr 2016
- The News Minute: Garment workers block major Bengaluru roads for second day, 19 Apr 2016
- The Quint: Garment factory workers block roads for second day, 19 Apr 2016
- Business Today/PTI: EPFO puts on hold new PF withdrawal norms till July 31, 19 Apr 2016
- Business Today/PTI: New provident fund rules withdrawn, 19 Apr 2016
- Deccan Herald/PTI: Govt rolls back decision on tightening PF withdrawal norms, 19 Apr 2016
- IANS via The Peninsula: Three-day ban on assembly of people in violence-hit Bengaluru, 20 Apr 2016
- Deccan Chronicle: Fabricated vandalism, 20 Apr 2016
- Mint via Cafemutual: Govt rolls back decision on tightening PF withdrawal norms, 20 Apr 2016
- Business Standard: Govt tightened PF withdrawal norms unilaterally, says trade unions, 20 Apr 2016
- FashionUnited: Garment workers protest for pensions in Bangalore, 20 Apr 2016
- IndiaSpend: 3 reasons Bengaluru textile workers rioted, 21 Apr 2016
- PIB release (Ministry of Labour and Employment) via StaffNews: Government decides to withdraw the 10th February 2016 notification with immediate effect, 21 Apr 2016
- Deccan Herald: Govt seeks info on those behind violence, 22 Apr 2016
- The Quint/The News Minute: Beyond the Bengaluru protests, PF policy was only a trigger, 25 Apr 2016
- Apparel Resources: Will garment workers be released?, 29 May 2016
- Business Today/PTI: FM Arun Jaitley rolls back proposal on taxation of EPF withdrawal, 8 Mar 2016
- PUCL Karnataka and WSS: Thread and Tension, fact-finding report on the garment workers' strike of April 2016, May 2017
- Citizen Matters: Bengaluru garment workers protest: what happened in April 2016 (PUCL excerpt), 9 May 2017
- The News Minute: Garment workers in Karnataka's Maddur protest new PF withdrawal rules, 29 Sept 2026
- ANI: GATWU president, over 50 garment workers detained during protest against new PF withdrawal rules, 1 Oct 2026
- The News Minute: Over 60 garment workers booked in Bengaluru as protests against PF waiting periods grow, 1 Oct 2026