SURAT: With a view to keep a tab on unscrupulous elements instigating workers to
indulge in violence, embroidery unit owners in the city have unanimously decided that the workers will have to provide identity proofs within seven days if they planned to work in their units.
The decision was taken to thwart attempts by unscrupulous elements to disturb industrial peace in the city.
For the last one fortnight,
embroidery workers had taken to the streets in Varachha, Kapodara, Puna, Pandesara and Sachin industrial estates. The workers had gone on a rampage demanding holiday on Sunday and reduction in working hours from 12 to eight hours.
A meeting was held between city police, embroidery unit owners and
trade unions on Wednesday to resolve the issues concerning the workers. Trade union leaders demanded strict implementation of
Factory Act and labour laws in the embroidery sector.
Anjana Embroidery Owners’ Association president Shravan Joshi said, “We have decided that the workers will have to provide identity proofs within seven days, failing which we will fire them. Some people are trying to disturb peace in the industry by instigating workers in the name of weekly holiday on Sunday.”
Joshi added, “Only genuine workers will be able to provide their identity proofs. This will help us to keep the industry safe from unscrupulous elements. The workers in embroidery sector are paid on fixed monthly basis and many also work on piecemeal basis. Genuine workers want to earn more by dedicating more time in the units.”
South Gujarat Embroidery Association president Dinesh Angadh said, “We have received some demands from workers and trade unions. A decision on keeping holiday on Sunday is yet to be taken. We will call a meeting of all embroidery associations in the city to decide on the holiday issue.”
