THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: In the wake of the death of migrant labourers at a construction site in Thiruvananthapuram, the Labour Department officers have been given strict instructions to inspect all construction sites, said Labour Minister T P Ramakrishnan.
They have also been asked to visit all the sites where migrant labourers and women work, especially shops and other establishments where they are being allegedly exploited, the minister said while inaugurating a conference on ‘Stakeholders’ Consultation on Labour Migration to Kerala’.
He said the enforcement wing of the department would be strengthened in the coming days. The welfare of the migrant population is one of the priorities of the state government which has taken several measures for their benefit, the minister said.
The government does not differentiate between the local workforce and migrant workers. It is committed to ensuring equal wages, better service conditions and social security benefits for the migrant workforce. In this regard, it is coming out with a comprehensive health insurance scheme called ‘Awaz’ exclusively for workers from other states, said Ramakrishnan.
The minister said the first housing project for migrant workers was nearing completion at Kanjikode in Palakkad and the initiatives of the government are a model to the nation. On the other major initiatives, he said a labour helpline has been started and a Migrant Facilitation Centre in all districts was on the anvil.
Labour Secretary Tom Jose, Labour Commissioner K Biju, Planning Board member K Ravi Raman, National Project Coordinator of International Labour Organisation’s Decent Work Technical Support Team for South Asia and country office for India Bharti Birla and others were present at the conference.
Rising concern
The welfare of the migrant population is one of the priorities of the state government which has taken several measures for their benefit, the minister said.
The government does not differentiate between the local workforce and migrant workers. It is committed to ensuring equal wages, better service conditions and social security benefits for the migrant workforce.