Lucknow, January 23: The UPA government’s move to amend the laws to ensure that contract workers are paid equal wages and given same welfare benefits as regular employees for similar or same kind of work got a boost on Friday with state governments supporting the step. With consensus emerging, the Labour Ministry is set to take the proposal to the Cabinet.
Having made up its mind to amend the Contract Labour (Regulation and Abolition) Act, 1970, the ministry placed the proposal before the meeting of state Labour Ministers here. The states backed the move as most ministers felt that contract workers are an exploited lot and steps should be taken to protect their wages.
Although the rules framed under the Contract Labour Act states that wages, holidays, hours of work and other conditions of service of contract workers and regular employees should be the same, the rule is often flouted. The Labour Ministry wants the rule to be “marginally modified” and “incorporated as a part of the Act itself so as to ensure its enforceability”.
Making a case for amending the law, Labour Minister Mallikarjun Kharge said it was the responsibility of the Centre and states to ensure that the interests of contract workers are protected and their exploitation is prevented. “If contract workers are provided similar wages and facilities as regular employees much of their problems can be tackled.”
—Agencies