Minister warns civic bodies over dues of contract labourers

Maharashtra Labour Minister Sambhaji Patil Nilangekar today asked civic bodies of Mumbai, Nashik and Thane to immediately clear pending wages of over 8,000 contract labourers or face legal action.
The move comes a day after the Coordination Committee comprising representatives of three trade unions -- Kachara Vahatuk Shramik Sangh, Maharashtra Municipal Kamgar Union and Nashik Manapa Shramik Sangh -- issued a notice to the three municipal bodies, saying they would go on an indefinite strike from October 28 to seek minimum wages for contract labourers and payment of arrears.
The Labour Department has sent e-mails to officials concerned of the civic bodies, asking them to take quick action on the demands.

In August, Nilangekar had assured the Committee that the contract labourers will get minimum wages and also arrears for the last 20 months before Diwali and issued instructions to the three corporations in this regard.
"However, the corporations have not yet complied and have kept the wages and arrears of over 8,000 contract sweepers on hold. Till now only Nashik municipal corporation has assured the release of wages and arrears by Tuesday (October 25)," he said.
"We have given enough time to all the three municipal corporations to release the payments. Minimum wage is the basic right of contract labourers and I have asked the corporations to immediately clear their payment. No one will be spared for breaching the minimum wage rule. We have already initiated legal proceedings," Nilangekar said.

The respective Municipal Commissioners will be held responsible for non-payment of dues and action will be taken against them, the Minister warned.
"In case of any further delay, as per the provisions of the law, they will have to compensate ten times the actual pending amount," he said.