Surat: The owners of embroidery units in the city have launched a social media counter-campaign featuring more than 1,000 workers as they seek to blunt the impact of viral protest videos linked to an ongoing labour agitation demanding changes to working hours and weekly paid leave.The move comes amid unrest in the embroidery sector, where workers have been demanding limits on shifts exceeding eight hours and a paid weekly day off.Industry leaders say the campaign is aimed at responding to online messages they believe have helped mobilise protests over the past two months.The agitation escalated on Aug 16 when workers resorted to stone-pelting and damaged property in industrial societies in the Amroli police station area, including Anjani and nearby industrial estates.A month later, workers held a demonstration at the district collector’s office and submitted a memorandum, alleging that their demands remained unresolved.According to industry representatives, social media has played a significant role in organising the agitation. Video messages in multiple languages circulated widely online, with workers urging others to join the protests.Industry leaders drew parallels with Feb, when videos linked to labour unrest in Panipat, Haryana, were followed by protests and violence in Hazira.To respond, embroidery unit owners have begun recording videos of workers who said they were satisfied with existing working conditions and did not support the agitation.“We decided to answer elements trying to create disturbance on the very platforms where they are sharing the instigating messages. We have been organizing meetings of workers for the last few days during which we were told that barring a bunch of people, most workers do not have any problem,” said Karunesh Ranpariya, former president of the Textile Embroidery Jobwork Association of Surat (TEJAS).The videos of such workers are being edited and released online.“The editing of videos is going on and these videos will go viral soon,” Ranpariya added.Afte the stir broke out, senior officials of the labour department held discussions with leaders of the textile industry to explore solutions. TEJAS later organised a meeting attended by around 3,000 embroidery unit owners and appealed for unity in handling the situation.Industry estimates suggest Surat has 40,000 embroidery units employing two lakh workers. The units operate across the city’s major weaving clusters and form a key part of the textile economy.
