‘Still working 12-hour shifts’: Surat textile workers protest at collector’s office

The workers, numbering hundreds, stated that they had resumed work after they were assured by the owners of embroidery units that their demands would be met. (Representational File Photo)

Weeks after textile workers took to the streets to demand eight-hour shifts and weekly off on Sundays, many returned and protested at the district collector’s office here on Saturday.

The workers, numbering hundreds, stated that they had resumed work after they were assured by the owners of embroidery units that their demands would be met. However, they were still working without a break for more than eight hours a day as no decision had been reached yet, they claimed.

During the demonstration, the situation grew tense after a worker alleged that the police were taking photographs and issuing threats. Deputy Commissioner of Police (Special Operations Group) Rajdeepsinh Nakum intervened and warned the agitators that an FIR would be registered if they did not follow his instructions.

As it was the second Saturday of the month, collectorate and labour department officials were not present. Subsequently, the workers dispersed after mediation between their leaders and police officials.

Janmabhumi Bharat Majdoor Union President Ajay Dubey gave a memorandum to the police officials. In it, the union demanded that apart from off on Sundays, textile workers should also be paid their wages by the seventh of every month, and that labour laws should be strictly implemented in the textile industry.

The memorandum also stated that over 18 lakh migrant workers were employed by the textile industry in Surat. It stated that workers were made to work overtime and didn’t get benefits such as provident fund, ESI, and gratuity bonuses.

Dubey said, “We will again come back on a working day next week and give the memorandum to the district collector. We will try to sort out the issues then.”

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Arvind Raj Vishwakarma, a protester, said a peaceful dharna would be launched if their demands were not met by September 30. “There is nobody to listen to our demands. We work 12-hour shifts. Our bodies need rest too,” he said.

Officials of the labour department could not be reached for a comment till Saturday night.

Vishal Goti, who owns embroidery units at Vedant Eco Park-2, said, while the workers were paid their wages before the seventh of this month, their demand of Sunday week off and eight-hour shift was still pending. “We give weekly off on Thursday due to power issue. Then how can we give another weekly off on Sunday? It will affect our production and business,” he said.

Last month, scores of workers stormed two embroidery units at Vedant Eco Park-2, an industrial estate in Surat’s Amroli suburb. The protest, which began at the Vedanta Industrial area of Surat’s Amroli on August 16, eventually spread to Anjani Industries, Katargam, Sachin GIDC, Pipodara, and Kadodara.

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At several factories, the workers halted operations entirely and staged intense demonstrations.

Then, representatives of the state labour department and textile unit owners met to discuss the workers’ demands.

In all three FIRs were registered at the Amroli police station following the violence and eight persons were arrested. According to an FIR, over 300 such factories were forcibly shut by the workers in Amroli. Crime Branch officer Amitkumar Dubey, who was injured in a stone-pelting incident, also lodged a complaint based on which an FIR was registered against a mob of 500 labourers at Amroli police station on August 17.

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Kamal Saiyed is a senior Correspondent for The Indian Express, providing extensive, on-the-ground coverage from Surat and the broader South Gujarat region and the Union territories of Daman, Diu & Dadra Nagar Haveli. With a reporting career at the publication spanning back to 2007, he has established himself as a high-authority voice on the industrial, social, and political pulse of one of India’s fastest-growing urban hubs. Expertise Industrial & Economic Beat: Based in the "Diamond City," Saiyed offers expert reporting on the diamond and textile industries. His work tracks global market shifts (such as De Beers production changes), local trade policies, and the socio-economic challenges facing the millions of workers in Surat’s manufacturing hubs. Civic & Infrastructure Coverage: He consistently reports on urban development and public safety in Surat, including: Traffic & Urban Planning: Monitoring the city's 13-fold increase in traffic violations and the implementation of new municipal drives. Public Safety: Investigative reporting on infrastructure failures, fire safety NOC compliance in schools and commercial buildings, and Metro rail progress. Political Reporting: Tracking the shifting dynamics between the BJP, Congress, and AAP in South Gujarat and the neighboring Union Territories (Daman, Diu, and Dadra & Nagar Haveli). Crime beat: Armed with a good source network Saiyed has been able to bring out the human side of crime stories in his region ... Read More

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