Around 80 labour rights activists and textile embroidery workers were detained across Surat on Thursday before they could submit a representation at the district collector’s office in Athwalines, demanding the implementation of labour codes, a paid weekly day off and an eight-hour workday without wage reductions.
The detentions began early in the morning and continued until the afternoon as workers and activists attempted to assemble or travel towards the collectorate. Police teams were deployed in several parts of the city to prevent groups from reaching Athwalines, according to the report.
The protest emerged from demands raised by workers in Surat’s textile embroidery sector. Workers alleged that they currently receive the same payment for 12-hour shifts that they would receive for shorter working hours. They also sought a weekly paid holiday and implementation of labour codes covering working conditions and employment protections.
Indian National Trade Union Congress Gujarat president Naisadh Desai was detained after reaching Athwalines and was taken to Umra police station. Worker leaders Suresh Sonavane and Malkhan Verma were detained earlier and taken to Pandesara police station. Shan Khan, an activist associated with workers in the textile transport sector, was also detained in Athwalines.
Desai said labour rights activists had met on Sunday and decided to submit a representation to the district collector on Thursday. According to him, Dubey, Sonavane and Verma had sought police permission to submit the representation but were arrested one after another. Activist Ajay Dubey had been arrested on October 12 in an alleged extortion case, the report said.
Worker leaders said police personnel had visited industrial societies in Surat district on Wednesday and maintained a vigil from early Thursday. Sonavane alleged that the police action prevented workers from making even a peaceful submission. He further claimed that the detained activists were held in a way that restricted their ability to meet others or speak on the phone.
The detained leaders were later released. The incident has brought attention to the working conditions in Surat’s textile and embroidery economy, where labour representatives say long shifts and the absence of a paid weekly day off remain unresolved issues. The report did not provide an official police response to the allegations made by the activists.
Following the detentions, activists announced that they would submit a representation to the Surat police commissioner on Friday, protesting the restrictions placed on their planned submission at the collector’s office.
