‘Wage cut’ message triggers strike at Surat diamond firm

Sources among diamond cutters said a message circulated within the company that the management firm had cut regular per-carat wages. The news spread like wildfire, as a result of which, diamond cutters reached the company gate on Friday morning and staged a demonstration demanding restoration of wages. There are around 1,500 workers and roughly per carat cutting wage is around Rs. 200.

The company management immediately rushed to the factory on Friday morning and discussed the issue with the management staff.  Later in the afternoon, the company managers broadcast voice messages on the mobile phones of all the diamond workers staging protests outside the company, stating that there would be no wage cut. The diamond artisans entered the company and, after talking to the management staff, continued their work.

Talking to The Indian Express, Greenlab LLP director Smit Patel said, “We are really disappointed with the incident which has happened for the first time in our firm. I spoke with the management and the diamond cutters, and later, the matter was resolved. A small misunderstanding has been resolved, and the diamond artisans are now back to work. There was a discussion among management about the inventory side and other aspects of the company. Somebody seems to have spread misinformation, which resulted in the incident.”

Diamond Workers’ Union Gujarat vice president Bhavesh Tank said, “After Diwali, a growth is seen in the demand of the Lab Grown Diamond industry in the domestic and international market. The company’s owners should also ensure that the diamond workers, who have been facing financial problems over the last couple of years due to poor market demand, are paid sufficient salaries when the market is in good condition.”