(a) whether various factories including private liquor factories in various States hired contract workers in a bid to keep them out of the ambit of labour laws resulting in their economic exploitation;
(b) if so, the details thereof and the reaction of the Government thereto;
(c) whether the Government is taking any steps for safeguarding the interest of such workers engaged in the said sectors; and
(d) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?
MINISTER OF STATE(IC) FOR LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT (SHRI BANDARU DATTATREYA)
(a) & (b): No specific information w.r.t. to contract labour engaged in Factories including Private liquor factories. However, the number of inspections conducted under different labour laws in the Central Sphere establishment during the last three years is enclosed at Annexure-“A”.
(c) & (d): The interests of the contract labour in term of wages and other service conditions are safeguarded under the Contract Labour (Regulation & Abolition) Act, 1970. The social security aspects of contract workers are taken care of under Employees Provident Fund and Miscellaneous Provision Act, 1952 and Employees State Insurance Act 1948. Under these Acts, the Central Government is the appropriate Government in respect of the establishments falling under central sphere. Respective state governments are the appropriate Government in respect of the establishment falling under state sphere. Private companies also come under State sphere.
The Office of Chief Labour Commissioner (Central) conducts inspections under all applicable labour laws on regular intervals in Central Sphere through various field officers. The details regarding number of inspection, irregularities detected, prosecution launched etc. is enclosed at Annexure-A.