(a) the steps taken to ensure a safe and healthy environment at workplace for the sanitation workers given that the death rate of sanitation workers has been increasing rapidly;
(b) whether the sanitation workers have been facing a delayed payment of wages and if so, the reasons for such delay; and
(c) the details of the steps taken by the Government to avoid this?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF JAL SHAKTI
(SHRI RATTAN LAL KATARIA)
(a) To prevent the practice of manual cleaning of sewage and septic tanks by workers by going inside the tanks without safety equipment, a provision has been made in Section 7 of the “Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and Rehabilitation Act, 2013” (MS Act, 2013), which lays down that no person, local authority or any agency shall engage or employ, either directly or indirectly, any person for hazardous cleaning of sewer or a septic tank. As the MS Act, 2013 had come into force on 6.12.2013, hazardous cleaning of a sewer or septic tank that is cleaning without protective gear and other cleaning devices is a prohibited activity with effect from 6.12.2014.
“Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Rules, 2013”, which have come into force from 12.12.2013 stipulate the obligation of Employer towards employees who are engaged in cleaning of sewer or septic tanks which include, inter alia, providing protective gear, safety devices. The employer shall ensure that the assigned person has life insurance policy of at least ten lakh Rupees and the premium for which shall be paid by the employer. Complete details of obligations of the employers are given in Rule 3 to 8 of MS Rules, 2013. Whoever contravenes the provisions of section 7 of MS Act, 2013 shall for the first contravention be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to two years or with fine which may extend to two lakh rupees or with both, and for any subsequent contravention with imprisonment which may extend to five years or with fine which may extend to five lakh rupees, or with both.
(b) and (c) Sanitation being a State subject, the State Government has to ensure proper and regular wages to the employees engaged by either directly or through contractor.