This comes after the state Labour Commissioner threatened on December 22 to take criminal action against the unit owners if they did not re-open by January 1.

The attendance was, however, low with around 50 per cent workers coming to their respective units.

Most of the units have decided to work five days a week and reduce the work hours by two-three hours till next January in the wake of the global slowdown.

“The attendance has been reduced to half, as several workers have changed their profession, while many others have gone back to their native villages,” said Vinu Jogani from the Ahmedabad Diamond Association.

He added: “Owners have re-opened their units as there is a lot of pressure from the state government. The government does not understand that units were closed because there was no work. The economic meltdown has affected the diamond business badly. Several foreign buyers have put their demands on hold.”

BJP MLA Vallabhbhai Kakadia, who owns a unit at Rakhial, told Newsline: “We have opened the units following the order of the Labour Department. However, it will not be possible for us to run for a long time, as we all know about the raw material’s scenario.”