Kochi: The state government order giving mandatory midday break from 12 noon to 3 p.m. for workers is not being followed at many construction sites. As per the order, all labourers who are exposed to sunlight have to rest indoors to avoid potential sunstroke and serious health issues.
Though the NREG workers take the noon break, many worksites, especially in rural areas, do not follow the order.
Break is given at the worksites of big infra projects like roads, bridges and buildings, but small sites like construction of houses or small buildings avoid it.
“It is not feasible to give the break at small sites as the workers are not ready to start work early in the morning. They will come by 9 a.m. and leave by 5 p.m. If a three-hour break is given, the contractor will suffer loss of working hours. Most of the small-scale building contractors get only a meagre margin. The norm can be implemented only if the workers start the work by 8 a.m. and leave only by 6 p.m,” said a building contractor on condition of anonymity.
Since the authorities focus on the city and suburbs, the violation of the norms in rural areas is often ignored.
Meanwhile, a top official with the district labour officer (enforcement) told DC that a team of labour department enforcement officials was inspecting the construction sites to enforce the order. “We have given strict instructions to all the building contractors registered with the department to comply with the order. The registration of those violating the instruction will be cancelled,” sources said.
“The Metro civil contractors are not violating the order. Since the viad-uct construction is almo-st over from Maharaja’s to Thykoodam, workers are engaged in construction within the station buildings. The track works are carried out only during night. Thou-gh works of the Chamba-kkara bridge and the Metro viaduct construction from Thykoodam to Petta are progressing, the labourers are given the three-hour break,” said sources at Delhi Metro Rail Corporation
Contractors get penalised
The Ernakulam district labour department officials have taken action against the contractors who have violated the government order on giving three hour midday break to workers in construction sites.
During the inspection, officials found six worksites where labourers were working from 12 noon to 3pm under the scorching sun. Officials instructed them to stop work immediately. Raid will continue in coming days as well, said V.B Biju, district labour officer.
