THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Acting on the basis of an anonymous petition that alleged violation of labour laws by companies based in the Technopark here, State Human Rights Commission member S. Verghese visited the Technopark and held discussions with officials there on Saturday.

The long working hours in companies, unsatisfactory service conditions and non-compliance with labour laws were the three points stressed in the petition received by the SHRC.

Following the discussions Mr. Verghese told press persons that he did not find any violation of human rights at the Technopark-based companies. The Technopark appears to be a model institution, he said.

The records maintained by the Technopark show that all labour laws in the State are being adhered to there, Mr. Verghese said. "When a company is set up inside the Technopark it is on the basis of an agreement signed with the State Government that it functions.

There is a separate cell here to monitor the implementation of that agreement and any violation is acted upon immediately by the cell," he said.

When asked about the complaint of non-observance of national holidays by Technopark-based companies Mr. Verghese said the companies functioning there had international tie-ups and that when it is a holiday here it would be a working day in the foreign country. The working time here is linked to the working hours in those countries. "Only a `skeleton staff' is asked to work on such days. There should not be any breakdown of work," he explained.

The transportation facilities given to employees by companies were found to be satisfactory. The Commission had received an earlier complaint about the transportation facilities offered to women employees and about the problems faced by women employees in city hostels due to odd working hours, he said.

However, if the Commission receives specific complaints an inquiry would be held, he added.

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