The Hindu Business Line : Diamond workers in Surat seek higher pay

Ahmedabad, July 2 Global slowdown in the economy, the resultant decline of exports and fears of job losses have reflected in Surat district of Gujarat since Tuesday as hundreds of daily wage workers engaged in diamond cutting and polishing started an agitation, some even going on a rampage, demanding increase in wages.

Reports reaching here said on Wednesday said that while some major members of Surat Diamond Traders’ Association agreed on Tuesday to hike wages by 20 per cent, others, numbering about 4,000 smaller units, were refusing this demand saying they could not afford it in times of low revenues.

According to Mr Babu Jeeravala, President of Surat Ratna Kalakar Sangh, the union of diamond workers, many diamond unit owners refused to raise remuneration quoting slowdown in demand for diamonds and lower exports.

This had many workers up in arms as, he said, as wages had not been raised for more than a decade and, with rising prices, the workers were facing financial hardships. “We had called for a strike on Tuesday to press for our demand to raise the remuneration at least by 30 per cent and could convince some of the diamond unit owners to raise it by 20 per cent,” he added.

Trading centre

Surat is a leading diamond polishing and trading centre of the world. Out of 50 Diamond Trading Companies (DTCs) in India, 35 are from Surat. More than four lakh workers, engaged in some 350 major and 4,000 smaller units, earn their living by polishing diamonds.

On an average a worker’s daily wages range between Rs 150 and Rs 200 depending on the shape and quality of diamond he polishes. But some highly-skilled workers earn much more.

Mr C.P. Vanani, President, Surat Diamond Traders’ Association, said the recent recession in the US economy, coupled with sky-rocketing prices of rough or raw diamond, has forced thousands of workers to switch from the diamond industry to other jobs.

More Stories on : Gems & Jewellery | Human Resources | Gujarat

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