Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, April 08:
The Labour Department under the Government of Manipur is as good as non-existent as it has not taken any keen interest in taking up activities for the welfare of the labourers in the State, president of Manipur Shops and Establishments Employees' Association S Chandramani Singh has stated.
Speaking as one of the resource persons of the State level workshop on 'Implementation of labour laws in Manipur' being organised by office of the Deputy Labour Commissioner, Govt of Manipur at Kangla Hall here today, Chandramani pointed out that employees in shops and hotels in Manipur are being subjected to violence perpetrated by the owners of the shops or hotels, police and labour department.
The workshop would go on till tomorrow.
Presenting a paper on 'Exploitation of employees in shops and establishments in Manipur', Chandramani said there are around 3,000 employees working in different shops and hotels located in different parts of the State.
These employees are being subjected to exploitation.
Yet the Labour Dept has not taken any measures to protect them from such exploitations nor any welfare measures for them.
In accordance to the Minimum Wages Act, unskilled labourers are entitled to get Rs 81.40 as wage per day and Rs 86 and Rs 88 per day respectively for semi-skilled and skilled labourers.
However, some of the employees in the shops and hotels in Manipur are getting only Rs 1500 in a month even if they have worked for
over 20 years.
Moreover, there are shops and hotels which have not yet registered and carrying out business illegally.
Inspite of the fact that many labourers do not yet even 2 hours of sleep and rest, they are being denied their extra wages.
Demanding to know what the Labour Dept has been doing for the welfare of the labourers, Chandramani came out strongly against the fishing dealings between the Labour Inspectors and the employers when the former come for inspection.
Among other resource persons, Advocate H Jiten Singh spoke on the topic of 'Main provisions of Workmen's Compensation Act, Industrial Disputes Act, Manipur Shops and Establishment Act' and Rural Labour Inspector Ch Chandrakumar on 'Main provisions of Minimum Wages Act.
The workshop was conducted with Advocate Abdul Quiyum as penal chairperson of the technical session.
Labour Minister P Parijat and MLA M Muhindro Singh were chief guest and functional president of the inaugural function of the workshop which was also attended by MLA Dr I Ibohalbi and Labour and Employment Commissioner AR Khan as guests of honour.