Editorial
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| | Sad plight of construction workers | | J&K has failed in ensuring implementation of labour laws on project sites | | | Disruption of work on the National Highway project between Jammu and Srinagar by frequent strikes by the construction workers is a matter of serious concern because such strikes can delay completion of prestigious projects in Jammu and Kashmir. By and large such strike have been called for by the project construction workers in protest against non-payment of wages by the private contractor company executing the highway project as the laid down guidelines and set norms of the central labour departments. Unfortunately, these private companies are also not adhering to the agreements signed by them with the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI), the agency which outsourced the construction work to them. The companies are supposed to pay wages and allowances to the workers on the pattern set for rest of India. But these companies are not engaging the local of inter-state labour directly and hiring them through contractors who have formed a click of their own and want to earn quick money with the patronage of politicians and big contractors. This is one major reason why these contractors do not want the workers to form their workers unions, which can demand implementation of central labour laws. Moreover, state government’s labour department is totally inactive and lacks initiative for implementation and monitoring of labour laws by these private companies. These companies are indulging in underhand deals with the government departments and police for keeping strikes away from their project sites. Acute corruption in J&K is also playing the spoilsport so far as the rights of the workers are concerned. Anger is brewing among the workers because they are not being adequately as per the labour laws. The welfare measures on the part of the companies are also totally missing from the project sites. Instead of looking into the problems of the workers, some in the government are also looking after their own and companies’ interests. This process will in all likelihood lead to further strikes unless remedial measures are initiated by the government. |
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