Surat, Gujarat, India - December 12, 2023: Over 270 former employees of JB Brothers Diamond Company in Surat's Varachha area staged a protest at the Labor Department office today, demanding the immediate payment of their unpaid gratuity dues. The employees were laid off by the company a year ago due to the ongoing recession in the diamond industry.
The protesting employees allege that despite working for the company for over 10, 15, 20, and even 25 years, they haven't received their gratuity and other benefits as mandated by law. As per government regulations, employees who have worked with the same company for more than five years are entitled to receive gratuity. However, JB Brothers Diamond Company has allegedly failed to fulfill this obligation towards its former employees.
“We have been demanding our rightful dues from the company for over a year now,” said a former employee who participated in the protest. “We have families to support, and the company's refusal to pay us our gratuity is putting immense financial strain on us.”
The protest comes amidst a broader slump in the Surat diamond industry, which has led to numerous layoffs in recent months. The former employees of JB Brothers Diamond Company are now urging the Labor Department to intervene and ensure that their rightful dues are paid to them without further delay.
