NT NETWORK
PANAJI
Minister for Labour and Employment Avertano Furtado, on Friday, agreed to carry out an investigation into the allegations related to labourers, employed by the beach cleaning contractors, on various beaches.
Furtado also assured probe into the functioning of the labour inspectors.
Earlier, the opposition MLAs maintained that the beach cleaning contractors namely M/s Ram Cleansers and Developers Pvt Ltd, M/s Bhumika Cleantech Services Pvt. Ltd, M/s BVG India Ltd, and M/s Mhalsa Services have misled the Department of Labour and Employment in more than one ways, while the labour inspectors, who harass the small-time businessmen in the state, are turning a blind eye to the irregularities of the beach cleaning contractors, especially as regards their labourers.
Porvorim MLA Rohan Khaunte, who raised a related question, during the Question Hour pointed out that the payment of these labourers, numbering 125, has not been done since past four months, while there are no records of smart cards, biometric checks and physical verification of the labourers.
Furtado maintained that the biometric system for attendance forms an integral part of the beach cleaning tender, however, the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) authorities have refused permission to the beach cleaning contractors for setting up biometric boxes in the beach areas.
Margao legislator Digambar Kamat maintained that no labourers are visible on the beach areas, and these areas are further found to be strewn with garbage.
Kamat also pointed out that the labour inspectors were taking a lenient view towards the beach cleaning contractors, and sidelining violations on their part.
The Minister for Labour and Employment stated that due strict action would be taken against the erring labour inspectors.
It was also informed that the Department of Labour and Employment monitors the payment of the labourers by conducting regular and surprise inspections of the establishments under the different labour legislations applicable.
“The Contract Labour (R&A) Act, 1970 also provides for payment of contract labour in the presence of the principal employer, who is required to authenticate about the correctness of the payments,” it was further stated.