Authorities in Jammu and Kashmir’s Ramban district have started a process to identify all construction workers not yet brought under provident fund and insurance cover in accordance with labour laws.
The move comes as a major relief for labourers engaged in national projects in the district.
Ramban Deputy Commissioner Mussarat Islam issued the order after taking serious note of protests by the labourers for implementation of labour laws and disbursement of full wages.
In a communication to the assistant commissioner (provident fund), Islam said it was brought to his notice that several labourers/construction workers engaged in various concessionnaire companies executing national projects — such as the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link, Sawalkote Hydro Electric Project and four-laning of the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway — have not been brought under the ambit of provident fund and insurance cover, as enshrined in the labour laws.
“It has also been learnt that while concessionaire companies pay full dues to the labourers/construction workers, the same benefits are reportedly not extended by the PRW contractors (sub-contractors) of the concessionaire companies to the labourers/construction workers, as per their skill category, which is a matter of serious concern,” he said.
