New Delhi, Nov. 21 -- India's textile industry largely welcomed the government's rollout of four new labour codes on Friday. It especially praised the decision to allow women to work night shifts, saying this would help factories operate more efficiently and increase production. Exporters said the change would improve productivity and make Indian garments more competitive in global markets.

Industry bodies also said measures such as single registration, single licence and single return for employers, along with an inspector-cum-facilitator system instead of strict enforcement, would make it easier to do business.

The new labour codes come at a time when the textile and apparel industry is pushing for deeper integration into global suppl...