Twitter
Advertisement

Zari units in Surat deny forced child labour charges

The US labour department published a report last month mentioning 29 products from 21 countries, believed to have been mined, produced or manufactured by forced or indentured child labour.

Latest News
article-main
FacebookTwitterWhatsappLinkedin

The zari-manufacturing industry in Surat has vehemently denied the US labour department's report about the use of 'forced or indentured child labour' in the zari industry, saying there isn't an iota of truth in the report.

"No child labourers are used in zari units in Surat. Zari manufacturing is a specialised job and needs a lot of skill, which we do not expect from children. We do not know on what basis the report has been prepared," said Ramanlal Jariwala, president of the Surat Zari Manufacturers Association and chairman of the All India Federation of Zari Associations.

Shantilal Jariwala, president of The Surat Zari Goods Producers Co-operative Society, also reacted angrily to the report, saying,
"Forget forced or indentured child labour, the zari manufacturing units do not employ or need to employ any children at all. One must keep in mind that in all these years, not a single child worker has been caught from a zari unit by labour officials."

The US labour department published a report last month mentioning 29 products from 21 countries, believed to have been mined, produced or manufactured by forced or indentured child labour. The list includes zari (embroidered textile) and five other Indian products, viz. bricks, cottonseed (hybrid), garments, rice and stones.

American authorities have directed that contractors who supply any of these products to the US are required to certify that forced or indentured child labour was not used in their making.

Paresh Jariwala, a leading exporter of zari, said, "Zari manufacturing is like a cottage industry in Surat. While there are no child labourers employed, it is likely that some school-going children may be helping their families in the work. But it would be wrong to therefore classify it as child labour. And forced child labour it definitely isn't."

While we are willing to certify that our products are not made with the help of forced child labour, we must add that the US report does not present the true picture, he added.

Surat, famous for its textile and diamond industries, is also the oldest manufacturing centre of traditional zari in the country.

The industry has been in existence in the city for more than 150 years. Traditional zari is mainly made from gold, silver and copper, but its demand has fallen consistently in the last few years due to emergence of plastic and metallic varieties of zari.

Find your daily dose of news & explainers in your WhatsApp. Stay updated, Stay informed-  Follow DNA on WhatsApp.
Advertisement

Live tv

Advertisement
Advertisement