Big relief in diamond industry: Artisans get 8-9% salary hike in Sahajanand Export, end strike

The strike by the gem artists at Sahajanand Exports on Shantadevi Road in Navsari has successfully ended. The company's manager has accepted an increase of 8 to 9 percent in the salary of the employees. There are more than 800 gem artists working in this diamond company. In the morning the company owner put up a board showing the new price. In this, the price of the bottom was Rs. 11, the price of the pal was Rs. 6.50 and the price of the head was Rs. 7.50. Angry with these prices, the artisans demanded that the old pre-Diwali prices be continued. Initially the owner took an aggressive stance. He asked the artisans to do if they want to work or else leave. The artisans then sat in the complex and raised slogans of 'increase prices'. The settlement was reached with the intervention of a government labour officer late in the evening. The owner gave a written assurance of providing basic amenities in addition to giving a salary hike. In Surat too, gem artists have demanded a salary hike amid a slowdown in the diamond industry.