Coronavirus: Lockdown Surat Appeals for Government Cash

(IDEX Online) - India's ailing diamond industry is appealing for government help to cover minimum wages after the country's lockdown was extended to 3 May.

Production in Surat, the world's cutting and polishing capital, is at a standstill and an estimated 225,000 migrants - half of its workforce - have returned to their home towns elsewhere in Gujurat.

"While wages for March have been paid in full, there is no revenue during the lockdown which has now extended till May 3, said Dinesh Navadia, regional chairman of Gems and Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC).

"Certain sections of workers have not gone back to their native states and need to be paid at least minimum wages. We have made a representation to the government seeking financial assistance."

Ninety per cent of the world's diamonds are cut in India. Recent pre-lockdown figures revealed gross exports of rough and polished stones for February had slumped to $1.38bn, compared with $2.34bn in the same month last year. 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced on Tuesday that the lockdown, due to end this week, would continue until 3 May.