Surat: Around 20,000 owners of textile embroidery units gathered on Saturday on the outskirts of the city, in Saniya Hemad, to display unity during the ongoing workers’ protest demanding an eight-hour shift and a paid weekly off. The meeting was organised by the Textile Embroidery Jobwork Association of Surat (TEJAS) and was held amid heightened security.Leaders of the association said unit owners are prepared to implement the new labour codes, but insisted that the provisions be adopted in full rather than in parts. According to TEJAS representatives, the dispute intensified because employers believe workers are pressing for select benefits while refusing to accept other clauses included in the labour framework.“We are ready to accept eight hours shift and a paid weekly off as demanded, but in that case we will deduct costs of damage to material from their salary. We were not deducting this earlier,” said Karunesh Ranpariya, former president of TEJAS. He added that workers should not be selective in accepting provisions and alleged that some union leaders were provoking workers without explaining the complete set of codes. “The workers cannot be selective in adopting specific clauses and refusing to accept others,” Ranpariya said.Alongside the labour-related discussion, TEJAS announced internal welfare measures for its members and the wider workforce connected to the sector. The association said it would launch a donation drive for provide immediate financial assistance to a member’s family in the event of a sudden death, with each member contributing a small amount. TEJAS also announced plans to provide funds to support the higher education for either a worker or a TEJAS member, with the amount to be decided based on the level of study.Labour department officials and police held meetings with TEJAS leaders on Friday and Saturday to understand the association’s position and explore ways to resolve the issue. Authorities maintained a heavy police presence at the meeting venue, deploying more than 50 personnel, including inspectors and sub-inspectors, to ensure the event remained peaceful and no disturbance was created.
