Indian fireworks workers protest over layoffs

Thousands of fireworks industry workers who have been jobless for the past two months held a one-day hunger strike across Virudhunagar district in the south Indian state of Tamil on January 3. It was one of a series of protests held since November when more than 1,000 fireworks production units in Sivakasi town, where over 90 percent of Indian fireworks production occurs, were closed down.

The production normally stops two days before the annual Diwali festival but this year workers were unable to resume manufacturing due to an Indian Supreme Court ruling banning the use of barium salts in fireworks and production of joined firecrackers, known as laris. The court has only authorised the production of green (reduced emissions) crackers.

According to media reports, 2,400 people, including 1,300 women, participated in the hunger strike protest. The workers want the state government to appeal to the Supreme Court. The workers are demanding the Tamil Nadu government provide 10,000 rupees ($US142) relief money per month to each employee until the units are reopened.