Diamond polishers call off strike in Surat after intervention by labour department

One of the diamond polishers moving with the company, connected information of anonymity, said, “Every year, the institution gives america bonus worthy 2 months of wage – 1 successful March and different during Diwali. This year, we person travel to cognize that the institution has either refused to springiness a bonus oregon decided to wage a lesser amount.” The idiosyncratic further said, “Our salaries are based connected the fig of diamonds we chopped and polish. Since January, we person been getting less diamonds to chopped and polish arsenic a effect of which our wage has gone down. We did not adjacent get the bonus successful March. We precocious came to cognize that we won’t beryllium getting a bonus for Diwali either. So, we went connected strike.”

The idiosyncratic said that pursuing the involution of labour section officials, institution authorities person assured the workers of getting the bonus, albeit lone for Diwali. “We agreed to it keeping successful caput the recession successful the diamond industry. We volition resume our duties Wednesday,” helium added.

On Monday, Ramnagin Singh (41), who had been moving arsenic a diamond polisher astatine Asian Star, died by alleged suicide. His household members said helium utilized to gain Rs 30,000 to Rs 35,000 per month, which had reduced to Rs 15,000 implicit the past fewer months.

Varachha constabulary inspector A N Gabani said, “The kin said that Ramnagin had been upset for the past fewer days implicit his salary. He was disquieted astir the matrimony expenses of his 2 daughters.”

Surat lawman labour commissioner M C Karya said, “There was an contented implicit bonus betwixt the diamond polishers and the management. Following our involvement, it was sorted out.”

Talking to The Indian Express, Shah said, “Some misconception was dispersed by a fewer labourers successful my mill implicit the bonus issue. We person assured that this year, we volition lone beryllium giving Diwali bonus owed to the recession. However, we volition proceed giving salaries to the diamond artisans connected the ground of the enactment done by them.” On the worker’s death, helium said, “The incidental is not related to us. It could beryllium a idiosyncratic issue… we volition compensate the household successful days to come.”