Surat: Over 20,000 diamond workers employed in small diamond units have been rendered jobless as the units are yet to reopen after Diwali vacation, reports The Times of India.
The Ratnakalakar Vikas Sangh (RVS), representing the diamond workers in Surat, has demanded unemployment allowance for over 20,000 diamond workers, employed in the small diamond units, rendered jobless due to the impact of demonetisation.
RVS members led by its president Jaysukh Gajera will be submitting a memorandum to the district collector on Monday demanding unemployment allowance to the diamond workers rendered jobless due to the closure of around 1,500 small diamond units in the diamond hub of Varachha, Katargam and Mahidharpura.
Talking to TOI, Gajera informed, "The small units having less than 20 diamond emery wheels are yet to reopen after Diwali vacation. These units employ over 20,000 diamond workers who are rendered jobless. We are demanding that the diamond workers should be paid unemployment allowance by the state Government."
Gajera added, "These small diamond units have been doing cutting and polishing of diamonds procured from the local market. Most of the units do job-work for the medium and big units. After demonetisation, the units are facing severe liquidity crunch due to non-availability of cash in the banks. They (unit owners) are unable to pay wages to the workers. Thus, they have shut their units."
