Diamond workers protests turn violent

Wednesday, July 2, 2008 at 10:07 am

Hundreds of workers engaged in cutting and polishing of diamonds in Surat took to streets and pelted stones on diamond factories as their wages were not raised as announced by the Diamond Association of Surat. Workers claim that their salaries were not raised since last twelve years.

The Surat police were summoned and brought the situation under control.

The Diamond Workers’ Association (DWA) had earlier met the Surat Diamond Association (SDA) and made representations for a 30 per cent hike in the wages of the diamond workers. The association had also threatened to go on strike in case their demands were not met.

To try and resovle the issue, Surat Diamond Association President C P Vanani organised a meeting with some of the leading diamond unit owners of Varachha and Kapodara and urged them to consider the worker’s demands as wages had not been hiked over the last 14 years. A 20 per cent hike in wages effective from July 1 was decided.

On Tuesday morning, some of the diamond factory owners refused to comply with the decision and announced that a 20 per cent hike will not be given to the workers. Enraged at the sudden change in the decision, workers took to the streets.

Diamond Workers Association president Babubhai Jirawala came out on to the street with his supporters and tried to pacify the agitated workers.

When questioned about the situation SDA President C P Vanani said, “The diamond industry is reeling under recession and the decision of 20 per cent hike is beneficial to the diamond workers. It is not good that the diamond workers should come out onto the streets and pelt stones on the units. We have asked the diamond workers to approach us if their factory denies them the 20 per cent hike. The majority of the diamond unit owners have accepted our request and have even started acting on it.”

According to police sources, majority of the diamond factories situated in the Varachha, Kapodara and Katargam area were damaged by the angry diamond workers.

The police have not received any complaint from the unit owners, but have intensified patrolling in these areas.

( This post is from an independent writer. The opinions and views expressed herein are those of the author and are not endorsed by APakistanNews.Com.)

Diamond workers protests turn violent

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