(a) whether the Government has taken note of pitiable conditions of workers engaged in the ship breaking activities and if so, the details thereof;
(b) whether the Government has received the report of the Inter-Ministerial Committee on ship breaking industry particularly with regard to the workers` condition and their safety;
(c) if so, the details thereof along with the action taken thereon; and
(d) the steps taken by the Government for the welfare of labourers of ship breaking industry?
MINISTER OF STATE(IC) FOR LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT (SHRI BANDARU DATTATREYA)
(a) to (d): A statement is laid on the Table of the House.
STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (a) TO (d) OF LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 306 FOR ANSWER ON 15.12.2014 REGARDING SAFETY OF WORKERS BY SHRI KALYAN BANERJEE.
(a): The Government has framed a comprehensive legislation i.e. the Factories Act, 1948 for taking care of the occupational safety, health & welfare issues of the workers employed in factories/manufacturing sector including the ship breaking yard. Under Chapter-IVA of the Factories Act, 1948, there are elaborate provisions, for the hazardous process industries.
The enforcement of the provisions of the Act and Rules framed there under are carried out by the respective State Governments/Union Territories through their State Factories Inspectorates/Directorates.
(b) & (c): Government has received a report of Inter- Ministerial Committee on Ship Breaking under the aegis of Ministry of Steel and has notified Ship Breaking Code: 2013 in the Official Gazette. The Ship Breaking Code: 2013 comprises of various elements on Safety and Health of workers engaged in ship breaking activities. The provisions contained under this Code are required to be complied and implemented by ship recycling owners (Factory occupiers) and concerned stakeholders.
(d): The Statutes for ensuring safety, health and welfare are available in the form of comprehensive legislations enacted by the Government, for the workers employed in manufacturing sector including the Ship-recycling/ breaking industry, namely, the Factories Act, 1948 and the Rules framed there under. Further, the Employees State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) has approved for setting up of a 50 bedded Employees State Insurance Scheme (ESIS) Hospital having facilities for accident, burn and critical care cases, at Alang in Bhavnagar District of Gujarat, which is a major hub for ship- recycling industry.