The officials identified about 200 labour families working in brick kilns and other units working in pathetic conditions.
Most of the labourers migrated from the neighbouring States and districts. Leave alone the facilities for women and their children. These unregistered kilns are not maintaining any records.
The raids revealed the sorry state of affairs of labourers and the poor implementation of Labour Laws and Acts in the district.
The National Human Rights Commission served summons to the officials in pending cases relating to their failure in preventing bonded labour system and for not providing rehabilitation to the rescued labourers under Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Act, 1976.
Inspections condcuted
Recently, the Labour, Revenue, Sarva Siksha Abhiyan (SSA) Education departments officials conducted inspections on brick kilns at Velagaleru, Vellaturu and Kuntumukkala villages in the district.
The officials noticed that the labourers are working in highly polluted environment without provision of proper medical facilities. The labourers migrated from Odisha and Telangana States and Srikakulam, Vizianagaram and other districts.
“We conducted raids on 21 brick kilns with the help of police. The officials inquired about implementation of Minimum Wages Act, safety precautions, medical, drinking water, toilets, holidays, schools, maintenance of records and other facilities, which are not up to the mark,” said Gudivada Assistant Commissioner of Labour Srimannarayana.
Mandal Education Officer George Raju said only a few children were provided education.
Tehsildar Sandhya Rani said the officials are taking steps to ensure all facilities to the families in line with Inter State Migrant Labour Act Workmen (Regulation and Employment and Conditions of Service) Act, 1979.
“About 25 to 40 labourers are working in each unit. The managements are paying Rs. 450 for making 1,000 bricks. Instructions are given to the owners to register the kilns immediately,” said Tiruvur Assistant Labour Officer Durga Prasad.
We conducted raids on 21 brick kilns with the help of police. The officials inquired about implementation of Minimum Wages Act, safety precautions, medical, drinking water, toilets, holidays, schools, maintenance of records and other facilities, which are not up to the mark
Srimannarayana
Gudivada Assistant Commissioner of Labour
