Migrant labourers in dire straits

KOCHI: The woes of inter-state migrant labourers seems to be unending as the Labour Department is yet to take measures to grant them their rights. Though the Labour Department authorities are claiming that they are doing everything possible to mitigate the woes of inter-state migrant labourers, their life is still at stake. Subhash Chand S appointed as an Advocates Commission to study the functioning of the  health conditions of the migrant labourers said that the workers are still languishing in the same old unhygienic conditions. “Even after the High Court has asked to submit a report on the present conditions existing among the migrant labourers, their registration is not being done properly,” he said. There are around 84  plywood factories in and around Perumbavoor alone and the majority of the labourers working there still do not have appropriate accommodation and other facilities. “They are still working without identity cards and health cards,” he said.But the authorities said that they have already issued about 3036 identity cards to the labourers. However, T B Mini, member, Trade Union Centre of India, TUCI, who is also an activist for the cause of migrant workers, refuted this. “These claims are only on papers. As per the law, the contractors as well as the principal employers should have licences revealing the identity of the labourers. But it is not happening,” she said.She said the migrant labourers are not leading a life as per the Inter-state Migrant Act and also there are no arrangements to tabulate the number of labourers the moment they enter the state. “The Labour Department is only conducting inspections at the sites and taking action if they find any labourer without an identity card. But that is not enough,” she said.Besides a survey to enumerate the number of  labourers inside the district is still not being carried out efficiently. “There is a strict rule that the data on the inter-state migrant labourers should be submitted to the government. But how far it is being done is another question?” she said.  The shortage of staff in the Labour Department is yet another issue. “The existing employees are not sufficient to look into the serious issues being faced by the migrant labourers. There should be a separate department for it,” she said. When asked about it, Vincent Alex, Joint Labour Commissioner said: “The procedures are on to look into the matter.”