India's Diamond Factories will Stay Open over Diwali
October 01, 20
(IDEX Online) - Diamond factories will remain open in Surat, India, over the Diwali, the Hindu festival of light, to fulfil export orders.
Manufacturers in the world's cutting and polishing capital say they can't afford to turn away business and take the traditional two-to-four-week break.
An estimated 650,000 artisans will carry on working over the festive period (Diwali is 14 November this year) as overseas demand picks up for Christmas and New Year.
The coronavirus pandemic devastated India's diamond industry, forcing the closure of Surat's 7,000 manufacturing units for up to four months.
The industry is still running at little more than half-strength, with about 5,000 units now open, but operating with only 70 per cent staff because of Covid restrictions.
"Now that the business is gradually recovering, we want to work during Diwali so that order commitments can be met on time," Bhavesh Tank, vice president of Diamond Workers Union, in Gujarat, told India's Economic Times.