THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The proposed new Labour Policy envisages tighter enforcement of regulations meant to ensure safe working conditions at construction sites.The proposal comes in the wake of the increasing number of accidents at construction sites and also to prevent flouting of norms in the hiring of contract workers.“We are planning strict enforcement of the regulations. The draft Labour Policy will be announced on Chingam 1, August 17,” Labour Minister Shibu Baby John said.A new Labour Policy for the state is one of the 100-day action plan promises of the UDF Government. Strict enforcement of the Building and Other Construction Workers (Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Service) Act 1996 and other legislations is in the cards.With the construction boom spreading out of the urban centres, Kerala, is witnessing an unprecedented influx of migrant labourers from the northern states such as Bihar, Chattisgarh and West Bengal.The Building and Other Construction Workers (Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Service) Act 1996, clearly defines who an employer and employee are and what are the conditions to be followed in hiring contract labour.“If there are a minimum of ten workers, the employer should register himself with the registering authority, in this case, the District Labour Officer. Only then can the construction start. The certificate from the Labour Department is to be issued within 60 days, or else we can initiate prosecution measures. But the norms are being thrown to the winds,” a senior official with the Labour Department said.In the most recent case of a construction site accident, 24 workers at an under-construction KSRTC shopping complex at Thampanoor had a narrow escape after the ceiling collapsed during work on Thursday night. One labourer from Kollam had escaped with minor injuries.
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