Hundreds of polishers at Greenlab, recognized as India’s largest lab-grown diamond producer, walked out last Friday (28 November) in a row over wages.
They gathered at the gates of the factory in Surat following reports that their per-carat fee was to be reduced.
But they returned to work a few hours later after management sent out voice messages assuring them there would be no cut.
A Greenlab director described the incident as a “small misunderstanding,” triggered by misinformation during internal discussions on inventory and other business issues.
Bhavesh Tank, vice president of the Diamond Workers’ Union Gujarat, told the Indian Express: “After Diwali, a growth is seen in the demand of the lab grown diamond industry in the domestic and international market.
“The company’s owners should also ensure that the diamond workers, who have been facing financial problems over the last couple of years due to poor market demand, are paid sufficient salaries when the market is in good condition.”
Unions say many workers’ wages have not kept up with living costs, and that both natural and lab-grown units have seen friction over sudden changes in per-carat rates and job losses tied to swings in export demand.
Greenlab operates across the chain, growing rough lab growns, cutting and polishing them, and setting them in finished jewelry for both Indian and export markets.
It famously manufactured the 7.5-carat lab grown diamond that India’s prime minister Narendra Modi gifted to US First Lady Jill Biden in June 2023.
The company sells its polished diamonds through its US subsidiary, Labon, and has a distribution partnership with Florida-based Green Rocks.
Source: IDEX