Diamond workers in Surat launch indefinite strike amid severe industry slowdown

Diamond workers in Surat took to the streets, launching an indefinite strike to demand a relief package and a pay raise amid the ongoing slowdown in the sector. The situation has resulted in salary cuts of up to 50%. The diamond workers’ demands include the establishment of a welfare board, an increase in wages, and support for the families of workers who have tragically taken their own lives, strained by financial hardship. The protesters vowed to continue their strike until their requests are addressed.

India’s gem and jewellery export figures showed a decline, with shipments dropping 15% to $32.02 billion in 2023–2024. At $15.97 billion, polished diamond exports fell 27.58%. Rough diamond imports decreased 17.85%. India’s gem and jewellery exports fell 9.09% between April and October 2023, while imports dropped by 7.55% during the same period. The impact has left Surat, India’s diamond capital, reeling.

Further, data reveals that about 35-40% of diamond companies remained closed post-Diwali, and 600 children of diamond workers have dropped out of school. The Surat Diamond Bourse, which sold 99% of its office spaces last year, has seen slow movement from firms, with only 200 of the 4,500 firms making the shift.

A concentrated effort is required to revitalise the sector and safeguard those who depend on it for their lives, as many businesses remain closed and families are struggling. Surat, a key hub in the global diamond industry, is home to around 10 lakh workers who process about 90% of the world’s rough diamonds across more than 2,500 units.