Telling workers about their rights

The Delhi Legal Service Authority is conducting a legal awareness programme for labourers employed at various Commonwealth Games sites.

The Delhi Legal Service Authority (DLSA) is conducting a legal awareness programme for labourers employed at various Commonwealth Games sites. Judicial officers from all district courts have been assigned to assist games site workers in all labour-related disputes.

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In a weeklong campaign from May 1 to May 7, 2010, judicial officers will organize labour camps.

“We have designed a legal awareness programme specially for the inter-state workers. All the information related to their rights would be available first hand,” said Gautam Manan, Project Officer, DLSA.

The secretaries of DLSA from each Delhi district court would conduct the camps. The DLSA has prepared a special module creating awareness about contract labour, abolishing child labour, minimum wages, rights of women labourers, especially during pregnancy, and rights of migrant workers. Recently an NGO submitted a report in Delhi High court alleging the Minimum Wages Act was being violated.

The report stated most workers at Commonwealth Games sites were being paid between Rs 100 and Rs 114, where the minimum wage is at least Rs 203, and also not being paid double wages for overtime.

The report stated workers have no access to even the most basic sanitation and health facilities. Citing the report the HC had raised concerns about working conditions.