Members of the Karnataka Workers' Union staged a protest here on Wednesday, demanding Sobha Developers pay a compensation of Rs 25 lakh to the families of the labourers who died due to cholera at a construction site.

Two labourers died after drinking contaminated water at the Sobha Dream Acres site in Varthur on Saturday.

R D Melkiyor, joint secretary of the union, said the builders have to pay more as compensation for their negligence and for not providing basic facilities to the labourers.

"The labour department has not taken any stern action against the builders. The department collects 1% of the total cost of the project as cess from the builders, which is not reaching the migrant workers as they are not registered (with the Karnataka Building and Other Construction Workers Welfare Board). The department is not ensuring the compulsory registration  of
migrant workers," Melkiyor said.

Many workers die on construction sites and are denied benefits due from the Karnataka Building and Other Construction Workers Welfare Board, he said. "Bereaved families are eligible for compensation and even lifetime pension from a fund administered by the board," he told DH.

According to Melkiyor, the labour department has not even implemented the provisions of the Inter-State Migrant Workmen (Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Service) Act, 1979.