Champua: Companies and contractors are allegedly flouting the norms of the labour department as regards to the working hours of labourers during the summer. The labourers are forced to work when the temperature is even 41° C in Champua block of Keonjhar district.
Sources said as per the guidelines of the labour department, it is mandatory to give a break to workers from 11am to 3pm to avoid the danger of sunstroke as mercury levels rise in the summer. But it is alleged that the contractors who have taken government tenders and construction companies are forcing the labourers to work in the summer afternoon. As building activity is in full swing in the block, workers are brought from West Bengal.
They are doing labour work in the heat of the summer for their livelihood. The companies are not providing any security even though the labourers are working on the 3rd floor of half-constructed buildings.
The contractors prefer labourers from West Bengal as they charge less than the local workers. The contractors are also forcing the labourers to do overtime. It is further alleged the contractors are exploiting the labourers by paying less than the assured amount.
When Champua rural labour inspector Pushpa Minj was asked about this, she said no complaints were registered on this till now. “We will take strong action against the contractors who engage their labourers in construction work after 11 am,” she said.