Thousands of textile units in Surat hit as labourers call strike to seek wage hike

On Sunday, factory owners called up a meeting to discuss a possible solution. Subsequently, work resumed at around 50 per cent of the units as police presence was heightened.

Pandesara police inspector H M Gadhvi said, “We have intensified police patrolling in the industrial societies to ensure a peaceful atmosphere. We are working on getting the names of the people involved in spreading disturbance. We have also told our staffers to disperse if groups of labourers assemble at one place. We are also looking in the labour colonies so that nobody gets harmed.”

Giving more details, Pandesara Industrial Association Secretary Vimal Bekawala said, “At Sunday’s meeting, it was found that the workers wanted to work in the factory but they were scared of some antisocial elements. First issue was to give them security and for that, we talked to the Pandesara police station officials and sought their support and also requested them to put mobile patrolling vans in the industrial societies in Bamroli and Pandesara area.”

“We have assured all possible safety measures for the labourers, to which some of them agreed and resumed work. On Monday, 50 per cent of factories remained in operation in Pandesara and Bamroli areas. We are putting our efforts into resuming work at other remaining factories,” Bekawala added. Meanwhile, the factory owners on Monday were also seen seated in groups at the main gates of the industrial societies as they anticipated entry of anti-social elements.

Pandesara Weavers’ Cooperative Society chief Ashish Gujarati said, “There are over 1.5 lakh to 2 lakh powerloom machines in Pandesara and Bamroli industrial societies. The issue started on Saturday night when a group of youths forcefully threatened the labourers to stop the work and support the wages hike.”

He further added, “Just before Diwali, we increased the wages. The worker gets payment depending on the quality of cloth, and it is between Rs 1 to 2 per meter. The industry is booming and there are a lot of pending orders due to the marriage seasons. The labourers are taking advantage of the present situation and have sought a wage hike to Rs 2. To 2.15. We are also putting efforts to convince the labourers to get the remaining 50 per cent factories operational and for that we have also taken help from the police department for their security. We are hopeful that the industry will function with its full production from Tuesday onwards.”

Meanwhile, Federation of Gujarat Weavers Welfare Association president Ashok Jirawala said, “The strike called by labourers had been limited to Pandesara and Bamroli area and we have putting our efforts not to get it spread in other industrial areas in the city like Katargam, Sachin, Anjana, Kapdoara, Mota Varachha, and Sayan. We have also told the industrial society presidents to take precautionary measures and not to allow unknown persons entering into the industrial societies.”

He further added, “The market is booming due to the upcoming festivals and marriage season, and we are already facing a staff crunch, due to the migration of labourers from Surat during Diwali vacations. Taking advantage of a good number of orders by factory owners, the labourers are taking advantage of the situation and have put forward their wages hike, which is not appropriate.”