"I used to work 13 hours every day in Surat. In return, I got Rs 19,500 per month. I did not get even a day off in the whole week."
"If I took leave, that day's salary was deducted. So I returned to my home in Bihar four days ago. Now, it is not decided when I will go back to Surat."
These words are of 19 year old Veer Sahni. She worked in an embroidery factory in Surat for two years. Frustrated with not getting even a single day off in a week, he returned to his home in Sitamarhi, Bihar.
In the last few days, a large number of workers from North India have been seen going to their homes at Udhna railway station in Surat. Some people said that they are going home to celebrate Chhath Puja and Diwali. At the same time, some people admitted that they were returning to their homes because of the alleged working conditions in the factories of Surat.
About two and a half months ago, workers working in embroidery units of Surat had agitated demanding one day holiday in a week. Almost all the people working in this industry are migrant labourers. Most of them come to Surat from Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Jharkhand to work.
The workers complained that in the embroidery units they had to work in shifts of 12 hours every day and did not get even a single holiday in a week. If they take one day off in a week, that day's salary is deducted. On the other hand, factory owners say that when workers start a job, they are already given a condition that they will have to work for 12 hours and will not get a single holiday with pay in a week.
Veer Sahni, a resident of Bihar, has studied till class five. He told BBC, "I have just come home for Chhath Puja. We don't get employment here. So eventually I will have to go back to Gujarat." He says that in Surat he gets a place to stay in the factory itself, but he has to bear the expenses of food himself. According to Veer Sahni, out of his monthly salary of Rs 19,500, about nine thousand rupees are spent.
Kamlesh Yadav's situation is also like Veer Sahni. He says, "Many laborers working with me have returned to their villages. In my company too, 14 embroidery machines are closed and 16 machines are running." Kamlesh has not gone to his home yet because he is not in a position to leave his job. He works for 12 hours and gets a salary of a little more than Rs 18 thousand. He told the BBC, "In the last one week, a large number of workers have gone to their homes. Even if there is a power failure in the factory, the factory owners give leave and the salary for that day is deducted."
Suryoday Singh, who works in an embroidery unit in Surat's Vedanta Industrial Park, told the BBC: "When a worker starts working in a factory, there is no written agreement regarding his salary or holidays. There is only verbal communication." He says, "After fighting so much, a circular was shown on September 30 saying that it has been agreed to give one day leave in a week. But later the factory owners said that if they want one day leave in a week along with salary, then they will have to work on minimum wage."
Bipinbhai Akbari, who runs an embroidery unit at a GIDC in Surat, told the BBC, "For the last 20 to 25 years, work has been done like this in all the industries in Surat. The artisans have to work for 12 hours and they do not get any holiday in the week with pay." He claims, "With the kind of competition going on now and the salaries of the artisans having increased, it is not possible for the embroidery unit owners to give them leave."
On the workers' right to one day leave in a week, Surat's Assistant Labor Commissioner SS Dubey said, "According to the new labor code, workers have the right to one day leave in a week. According to the new labor laws, the worker has to work for eight hours every day and six days a week. The factory owner can also make him do 12 hours of duty, but in such a situation, he has to work for 48 hours a week." Not much work can be done."
Sharad Jhagde, associated with labor organization INTUC, says that most of the workers come from states where there is shortage of employment. He said, "The situation in Surat is difficult at present. For about two and a half months, the workers have been fighting for one day leave in a week. Recently, their demand for one day leave in a week has also been accepted through the Collector's circular. After this, 'Tejas', the organization of embroidery units, announced that now eight-hour shifts will be conducted and wages will be given as per the minimum wage. If this announcement is implemented, then Laborers used to earn 30 to 35 thousand rupees, their monthly income will reduce to 15 to 16 thousand rupees."
