DWUG Questions GJEPC’s USD 12 Billion Claim at IIJS

Surat : The Diamond Workers Union Gujarat (DWUG) has questioned the announcement by the Gems and Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC) that the six-day long IIJS Premiere 2024 exhibition in Mumbai generated a whooping $12 billion worth of business. DWUG stated that this announcement contradicts with the ground reality in the Surat diamond industry where the big diamond companies like Kiran Gems have announced 10-day vacation to combat the ongoing recession and the overproduction. 

Bhavesh Tank, the vice president of the union, has raised questions against this announcement and said that there is so much boom in the diamond and jewellery industry, then why the big diamond companies in Surat are shutting down their factories for 10 days in the name of recession. Why did the diamond companies exercise salary cuts for the diamond artisans? Why do the majority of the diamond units keep their units shut for two days in a week? Why are the industry leaders not taking actions against the factory owners for laying off diamond workers in the name of recession. 

Bhavesh Tank further said “A large number of diamond artisans have become unemployed due to recession and suicides are on the rise. The 10-day vacation announced by the diamond companies should be cancelled by the Surat Diamond Association and the GJEPC so that the livelihood of the diamond artisans is not affected”

Recently, the DWUG office-bearers met the Deputy Labor Commissioner and the Joint Director of Industrial Safety and Health Department, requesting that the diamond artisans be given vacation pay by the diamond companies who have announced 10-day vacation. 

According to DWUG office-bearers, Many companies in the diamond industry are laying off 25 to 50 artisans at a regular interval from the last many months, thereby disregarding the legal payoffs including bonus, allowances and other benefits under the Labour law.. Many small and big factories are closing down under the guise of vacation. 

“We have demanded that the Labour department should for a dedicated squad to conduct investigation in the diamond industry. In the last 18 months, about 65 diamond artisans have committed suicide and the diamond industry leaders, associations and the GJEPC has done little to help the bereaved families of the diamond artisans” said Tank.