The Hindu

Mangalore, Jul 3: The office of the Assistant Labour Commissioner has begun a crackdown on the violation of labour laws allegedly being committed by the Mangalore Electricity Supply Company Ltd., (Mescom) following a public interest complaint filed by autorickshaw driver Prakash Kini (48).

In March this year, Mr. Kini had complained to the Assistant Labour Commissioner, the Deputy Commissioner, and the district in-charge Minister that contract workers employed in various small and major works of Mescom were under grave risk.

Mr. Kini pointed out in his complaint that these workers were “exposed to grave hazards” and several of them had either died or grievously injured in recent years. He said that the contractors did not provide their workers with adequate protective equipment or training in dealing with high-tension electric cables and transformers. The workers were not being paid minimum wages.The contractors were not maintaining records such as log books or attendance registers for their workers. Taking cognisance of the complaint, Assistant Labour Commissioner Venkatesh A. Shindihatti recently directed his staff to inquire into the matter in Dakshina Kannada, Udupi and Shimoga districts.