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NHRC pulls up Ghaziabad administration

NEW DELHI: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has pulled up the Ghaziabad district administration for its “casual manner” in preparing a report on the implementation of minimum wages to the workers and trying to help the brick kiln owners who violated the labour laws.

In the report, pertaining to a specific case, NHRC found the information provided was “factually incorrect.” It detected that 113 brick kilns were not making payments to the labourers as per the provisions of the Payment of Wages Act, 1936 and Minimum Wages Act, 1948, and directed the District Magistrate (DM) to take strict action against the violators.

The Commission observed: “that the earlier reports submitted before the Commission were conducted in a casual manner and appear to have been prepared in order to help the brick kiln owners.” The labourers of these kilns were neither released nor rehabilitated and packed back to their villages without being paid even their dues. “But this is only a tip of an iceberg, as out of 423 brick kilns in this area of major construction activity, the district administration is yet to inspect 310 brick kilns.” The inspection had to be completed by six months. The case was taken up following a complaint by a worker on December 4, 2008, who alleged that he, his family and fellow workers were not being paid their full salary by their brick kiln owner. When sought they were tortured by the brick kiln owner and their staff and forced to live as bonded labourers in the kiln. Seven children below 14 years were also detained by the owner, he said.

Following this NHRC asked DM to hold an inquiry at the spot for identification of bonded labourers, if any, and release them. However the DM said the kiln was not functioning and no worker was found there.

The complainant however maintained the officer in-charge OP-Pipeline Police Station, Muradnagar, released all the labourers from the kiln without taking any action against the owner. They were also not paid their pending dues.

Later the Commission asked DM to hold an inquiry and also appear in person on February 2, 2010 when another inquiry report submitted by him was also not found satisfactory.

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