Diamond and gold jewellery exporters from Gujarat and Maharashtra are seeking more time to ship export orders as nearly four lakh migrant workers in Surat and Mumbai are unlikely to return to work before Diwali.

Orders that take 4-5 weeks to be delivered are now being executed in 6-7 weeks. Exporters fear the delay in execution of orders may result in shifting business from India to other South East Asian nations.

“Even though the times are tough, demand for jewellery exports is seeing an upsurge, and that is a huge positive for the trade” said Colin Shah, chairman, Gem & Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC).

These workers comprise those eager to resume work but are unable to because of transportation restrictions, or those reluctant to leave their families in times of crisis, Shah said.

Nearly one lakh workers are engaged in Mumbai in the gem and jewellery trade. Of them, only 50,000 are expected to return before Diwali. Migrant workers generally come from West Bengal, Gujarat and Uttar Pradesh. The situation is similar in Surat too, the diamond cutting and polishing hub of India. Nearly 6.5 lakh workers come to Surat to work. Of them, nearly 3.5 lakh workers are not going to come before Diwali.