Rajkot diamond workers to move high court to safeguard rights

In a bid to address and safeguard the rights of diamond workers, a Rajkot-based union of diamond workers, is considering filing a public interest litigation (PIL) in Gujarat High Court. Rajkot Diamond Workers Union, which represents over 200,000 diamond workers, is also planning to meet the Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi and labour department authorities to represent their demands.

"Since a long time we have been demanding allowances as per the labour law but workers in diamond polishing and cutting units in Rajkot have not been adhering to the rules," said Ramesh Jilariya, president of Rajkot Diamond Workers Union.

Most of the diamond workers earn daily wages. Moreover, they don't get medical allowance, provident fund and other benefits as per the labour law. Despite the diamond industry doing well, labour charges for workers have not been increased since last three years. "Earlier in 2008 we had asked the state government and represented our issues but that hardly reaped any results," said Jilariya.

Rajkot Diamond Workers Union is also talking to other diamond workers of Bhavnagar and Amreli of Saurashtra region for their support. Both Bhavnagar and Amreli too house large numbers of diamond cutting and polishing units.

According to the Union there are over 700,000 labourers engaged with the diamond cutting and polishing in Saurashtra region out of which more than 200,000 workers are active in Rajkot in about 300 polishing and cutting units of diamond. "Situation is almost same in every diamond unit in Saurashtra. Workers do not even get any provident fund, medical insurance, leave and other benefits as per the labor law." said Jilariya.

However Jilariya admitted that condition of Surat diamond workers is better than those in Saurashtra region as they are getting as per their rights. Recently over 100,000 diamond workers in the world's biggest diamond cutting and polishing centre in Surat were issued social security cards. The social security card project, taken up by Surat Diamond Association (SDA) and funded by Gems and Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC) will act as a valid identity for the tens of thousands of workers employed with the diamond industry across the state for getting benefits under the central and state government schemes besides protection during emergency situations.