Report sought on living conditions of Metro workers

The High Court on Wednesday directed the Deputy Chief Labour Commissioner (Central) to submit an action taken report within four weeks on the working and living conditions of the construction workers under Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL). 

A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice D H Waghela and Justice B V Nagarathna gave direction on a petition filed by Samuel Sathya Seelan.

Deputy Chief Labour Commissioner (Central) submitted an affidavit on the living conditions of the Metro construction labourers, stating that a team had visited all the construction sites in the City where Metro workers reside. He said directions had been given to improve the conditions of the workers.

During the hearing, the petitioner's counsel argued that the Metro workers were living in unhygienic conditions and were not given any medical aid.  The counsel representing BMRCL submitted a detailed status report on the living conditions of the Metro workers and said that all Metro projects had been handed over to contractors who had further allotted work to sub-contractors. The counsel denied any violations of rules by the BMRCL and submitted that the living conditions were good at the construction sites.

An agreement had been entered into with City hospitals, where workers would be provided emergency medical aid, the counsel said.

The petitioner alleging that a majority of the workers were migrant labourers.
He contended that there were grave violations of the rights of workers in regard to their living and working conditions and that the same had not been looked into by BMRCL.