Tariffs Threaten 150,000 Diamond Jobs in India
August 25, 25
(IDEX Online) - India's prime minister is facing calls for an immediate aid package for the country's diamond workers, ahead of the increase in US tariffs on Wednesday (27 August) from 25 per cent to 50 per cent.
The Diamond Workers Union Gujarat (DWUG), representing many of Surat's diamond workers, wrote to Narendra Modi last Friday (22 August) warning that the tariffs could cost 150,000 to 200,000 jobs - around a fifth of the total diamond workforce.
It is calling for the re-introduction of the Ratnadeep Scheme, first launched in 2008-09 by the Gujarat government to help diamond workers affected by global recession.
The scheme offered retraining for jobless diamond workers and a daily stipend to help them sustain themselves during unemployment.
The DWUG says in its letter that 80 unemployed diamond workers have taken their lives in the last two years.