Surat: Around 80 labour rights activists and textile embroidery workers were detained by police across Surat on Thursday, ahead of a planned mass representation at the district collector’s office in Athwalines seeking the implementation of labour codes. The detentions began early in the morning and continued until the afternoon as workers and activists attempted to reach the collectorate.The protest originated in the textile embroidery sector, where workers have been demanding a paid weekly day off and an eight-hour workday without any reduction in wages. They allege that they are currently paid the same amount for working 12-hour shifts.Police maintained a heightened presence in several parts of the city, deploying teams to prevent groups of workers and activists from assembling or travelling towards Athwalines.Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC) Gujarat president Naisadh Desai was detained after reaching the area and taken to Umra police station. Earlier, worker leaders Suresh Sonavane and Malkhan Verma were detained and taken to Pandesara police station. Shan Khan, an activist associated with workers of the textile transport sector, was also detained in Athwalines. Separately, activist Ajay Dubey had been arrested on Oct 12 in an alleged extortion case.Desai said labour rights activists had held a meeting 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.In Surat district, police personnel also visited industrial societies on Wednesday and maintained a vigil from early Thursday, worker leaders said.Sonavane alleged that the police action prevented even a peaceful submission of the representation. He further claimed that the detained activists were held in a manner that prevented them from meeting others or speaking on the phone. The detained leaders were later released. In response to the police action, activists announced that they would submit a representation to the Surat police commissioner on Friday, protesting the restrictions imposed on their planned submission at the collector’s office.
