Stories
Surat Embroidery Workers Protest: 70 Detained Over Sunday Off Demand
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News18•16-10-2026, 09:53
Surat Embroidery Workers Protest: 70 Detained Over Sunday Off Demand
- •Around 60 to 70 embroidery workers were detained by police in Surat while heading to the Collector office for a peaceful protest demanding weekly Sunday holidays and timely wage payments.
- •The labour agitation, led by Gujarat Pradesh INTUC, began on August 16 and has spread across key industrial hubs like Amroli, Katargam, and Sachin GIDC.
- •Workers have alleged that some employers deny statutory weekly leaves, impose long working shifts, and wrongfully dismiss employees who ask for time off.
- •Union leaders stated that multiple memorandums submitted to local authorities and labour commissioners went unaddressed, prompting the widespread protests.
- •The dispute highlights ongoing labour challenges in Surat textile sector, where thousands of migrant workers depend on fair wages and basic statutory rights.
Key Questions Answered
Surat's embroidery workers have been protesting since August 16, 2026, to demand guaranteed weekly holidays (particularly on Sundays), timely wage payments between the first and seventh of every month, 8-hour work shifts, and better working conditions.
On October 15, 2026, police detained around 60 to 70 embroidery workers and several labor leaders near the Surat Collector's office before they could begin their planned peaceful satyagraha protest because the gathering lacked official permission.
Workers claimed that factory owners immediately terminate employment and settle dues when employees ask for a Sunday holiday, and then circulate videos of them within industry groups to prevent them from securing alternative jobs.
