Notwithstanding the tall claims of the government to look after the welfare of labourers and employees engaged in unorganised sectors in the State, the benefits are not reaching the workmen who are languishing at the worksites.
Government sources said a majority of them were not registered with the Labour Department and hence not eligible for insurance and other benefits.
As many as 5,000 labourers are working at the Pushkar ghats and the temporary Secretariat at Velagapudi. Many workers were engaged for construction and renovation of various government offices relocated to Amaravati from Hyderabad.
‘Chandranna Bima’
But, a majority of the principal employers and labourers were not registered with the Labour Department, and the Andhra Pradesh Building and Other Construction Workers’ Welfare Board is losing some crores of rupees meant for labour welfare.
Interestingly, Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu launched ‘Chandranna Bima Padhakam’ aimed at enrolment of labourers and providing insurance coverage in case of death, injury and for extending scholarships for children.
A couple of accidents were reported in the work spots in the capital region in which a couple of labourers were killed and a few sustained injuries.
Those victims were not eligible for insurance and other benefits as they were not enrolled. However, the government was paying compensation through other means.
Separate cell
Recently, the district administration opened a special cell at the Sub-Collector’s Office in the city for registration of labourers working in the unorganised sectors under Smart Pulse Survey.
Contractors can enrol the names of the workers engaged by them by submitting Aadhaar card, bank account and other details, but no employer has visited the cell so far, Labour Department officials said.
As per the Contract Labour (Regulation and Abolition) Act 1970 the licensed contractor should register with the Labour, Employment, Training and Factories Department.
Under GO.76, AP Building and Other Construction Workers Act 1996 and Rules 1999, registration of workers is a must. The Supreme Court gave directions in this regard on January 18, 2010.
Under GO. 111, all government departments, local bodies, public sector units and other organisations should pay one per cent cess, and as per GO.112 private organisations and buildings should pay 1 per cent cess on the total estimated cost to the workers’ welfare board. The plan approval authorities should take steps for implementation of the orders.
“It was a fact that thousands of workers from different states and countries are engaged as masons, plumbers, electricians, helpers, carpenters, painters, rod bending and other works, but were not registered. Government has issued many GOs and Acts and framed rules, but the government departments are flouting the norms. We have set a target to enrol 1.5 crore workers in ‘Chandranna Bima Padhakam’ by August end this year. How can we achieve the target when top officials were ignoring the Apex Court’s orders,” questioned a Labour Department officer.
