Labour contractors lose Hazira licences

In a sudden move, the labour commissionerate has revoked the licences of 27 labour contractors of three companies of the Hazira belt, because they failed to follow the norm of providing jobs to the localities.

"In accordance with section-9 of The Contract Labour Act 1970, it is mandatory for the industries to provide 85 per cent of the jobs to the local people. The law is binding on the industries in Hazira belt, as well as on the labour contractors. Some contractors of Reliance Industries, Essar and Kribhco, were blatantly violating the law, by providing majority of the jobs to people from outside cities instead of the local residents," officials in the labour department, said.

"After learning of the violation of the law by labour contractors, the labour department had issued notices to them, directing them to take steps for complying with the norms. The contractors, however failed to respond to the notices, and act on the directions," officials said.

"Taking stern note of the violation of law by them, the labour department has revoked the licences of 27 contractors of the three companies, on Friday. These include five contractors of Essar, 10 contractors of Kribhco and 12 contractors of Reliance," department officials said, adding that they would keep a close eye on labour contractors of other companies as well, to make sure that the rules for providing jobs to localities are complied with.

Meantime, a spokesman of one of the major companies sought to downplay the action of the labour department.

"The labour contractors are required to follow the rules made by the government. If the contractors are not complying with rules, the company cannot be blamed. A company has nothing to do with the contractors' functioning, and it is for the enforcing agencies to make sure that the rules are followed," the spokesman said.