Jewelers strike on Monday over impractical implementation of Hallmark Unique ID

Mumbai: Jewelers across the country will go on a one-day strike on August 8 against the impractical implementation of the Hallmark Unique Identification Number along with the mandatory hallmarking of gold jewelery. The strike was supported by 30 organizations and federations across the country, sources in the All India Gem and Jewelery Domestic Council said.

Mandatory gold hallmarking has been implemented in the country in phases from June 15. In the first phase, this decision has been implemented in 6 states and 6 districts of Union Territories.

Implementing a hallmark unique identification number is impractical. The government is only holding meetings by forming committees on the issue but is not taking a definite decision, council sources said. The government is passing the time.

Jewelers will not accept the new Hallmark Unique Identification Number because it has nothing to do with the purity of the gold. Numbering is a time consuming method and given the current speed and number of hallmarking centers, jewelers can take a long time to complete the exercise for a new Hallmark Unique Identification Number.

The industry has no objection to just hallmarking.

Thousands of tons of gold are lying idle due to delays in the current hallmarking process. The hallmark question is like criminal proceedings against jewelers i.e. inviting Inspector Raj. If Inspector Raj returns, the jewelers will be forced to close down their businesses, council sources added.

Jewelers will have to provide details of each customer i.e. manufacturers to the final customer in the jewelry sales chain with the new Hallmark Unique Identification Number which is not possible as claimed by the jewelers industry.