Child-and-adult-labour-in-the-export-oriented-garment-and-gem-polishing-industry-of-India

The gem polishing export industry of India: Jaipur and Trichy
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million while this was US$ 4139.26 million during the previous financial year 116 . The figure of
1994-95 is almost one fifth of the total export of US$ 25 billion by India. Coloured gem stones
contributed US$ 141.46 million (3%) to the total gem and jewellery exports in 1994-95. The
export of synthetic gem stones from India is negligible with US$ 0.30 million in 1994-95.
Although only a three per cent share in the total export of gem and jewellery consists of coloured
gem stones, the export of these stones has made, after non-gold jewellery, the highest increase in
value (+ 42%) in 1994-95 as compared to 1993-94. It is a fast growing industry. Due to high earnings
from selling the polished coloured gem stones and synthetic stones in the (inter)national
markets, the industry is a lucrative business.
The USA is the single largest importer of gems and jewellery from India (29.7 % of total gems
and jewellery exports in 1994-95), as can be seen in table 4. Hongkong, Belgium and Japan are
the second, third and fourth largest importers of Indian gem stones. Other major importing countries
are UK, Italy, Germany, Switzerland, Thailand, U.A.R. and Israel, and Singapore. Total
import of 'precious and semi-precious stones other than diamonds' into the European Community
in 1989 amounted to US$ 600 million 117 . India's share in the imports of worked ruby, sapphire
and emeralds by the EC in 1989, was 10% (US$ 60 million), of other imported worked precious
and semi-precious stones by the EC, it was 2% (US$ 12 million), and of imported articles made
of precious and semi-precious stones also by the EC, India's share was another 2%. The Netherlands
imported from India in 1988, necklaces, bracelets and other articles wholly made of
precious and semi-precious stones, and (semi-)precious stones other than diamonds, ruby,
sapphire and emerald at a total value of Dfl 332,000. In 1990 this amount was Dfl 613,000. In
1990 the Netherlands also started to import synthetic gem stones from India at the value of Dfl
4,000 118 , and in 1994 at the value of Dfl 17,000 119 . The Dutch market is growing, especially for
the precious and semi-precious gem stones.
It is said that India can compete in the international market, because of the availability of cheap
labour 120 . The main competitors are Switzerland, Israel and Hong Kong but the labour costs are
much higher in these countries.
Among the cheap labourers are thousands of working children under 14 years of age 121 . In Jaipur,
Rajasthan, where 95% of the exported coloured gem stones in India are cut, shaped and polished,
89
116 Child's Right Bulletin, March-April 1995; and, Gem & Jewellery Export Promotion Council, 29th Annual Report, 1995.
117 Centre for the Promotion of Imports from developing countries (CBI), 1991. 'Precious and semi-precious stones. A market survey of
the Netherlands and other major markets in the European Community'.
118 CBI, 1991, ibid. In 1990, synthetic gem stones were imported under code nr. HS 7104 90: 'Worked synthetic or reconstructed precious
and semi-precious stones'.
119 Centraal Bureau voor de Statistiek, Heerlen, 1996. In 1994, synthetic gem stones were imported under code nr. HS 7104 20: 'Synthetic
or reconstructed precious or semi-precious, unworked or simply sawn or roughly shaped stones'.
120 Asian Finance, 15 March, 1988; Neera Burra, January 23, 1988 (II), ibid. p. 136.
121 The diamond polishing industry does not fall within the scope of this research. Diamonds are mainly cut and polished in Bombay and
Surat and surrounded villages. In this industry it is estimated that 15,000 out of 100,000 artisans are child labourers. Source: Neera Burra,
Born to Work, Child Labour in India, 1995.