Balasore: The process of identifying labourers, their registration and renewal is still going on in Balasore district amidst allegations that registered labour organisations and government officials are taking advantage of it and exploiting the labourers coming for registration or renewal.
Only the registered construction workers are entitled to government benefits under various schemes. However, such allegations fail to reach the top officials. According to reports, 83,000 labourers working in unorganized sectors have been registered so far.
For social security of construction workers, the government has introduced Construction Workers Act-1996 in 2002. The state government had started registration of labourers in 2008-9 by forming Orissa Workers Welfare Board and made provision for several benefits. These include, financial aid for buying tools, safety gear, bicycles, pucca houses, free education for their children, help for marriage of workers’ daughters, accidental and death benefits and pension.
Due to faulty process, it is alleged, many genuine labourers are unable to get themselves identified whereas scores of non-workers are registered as construction workers.
Orissa Workers Welfare Board has authorized several labour organisations, contractors and officials to carry out the registration work. Initially, the Board had got labour registration through six central labour organisations in 2009-13. However, over 30 independent labour organisations were roped in for registration in 2014-16.
Labour union leader Shantanu Das said, “Many construction workers are benefiting from the schemes. As the registration process is faulty, scores of non-workers have been registered themselves as construction workers and are taking advantage ofthe benefits. There should be a special department for construction workers. There is also a need for a clear-cut legal framework to streamline labour organisations and the officials to be engaged in this work. If no step is taken to streamline the work, the entire process will be at the hand of some brokers.”
District labour officer Kedar Pradhan said that labour organisations recognised by the State Labour Commissioner and authorized officials have been carrying out registration.
“While identification fee has been fixed at `20, there have been allegations of collecting money from labourers. But I have not received any complaint in this regard. If there is any written complaint in this regard, legal action will be taken against them,” he added.
PNN
