New Delhi, May 1 (IANS) With the aim of empowering labourers, the Delhi government Saturday announced the launch of a toll-free helpline for them on the eve of May Day.

May 1 is observed as the International Labour Day.

"The 'shramik' (labourer) helpline 12789 will become an effective tool for approaching the authorities in case of denial of minimum wages by employers and the enforcement of labour laws," Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit said at a function here.

She said that Delhi has become the first state to launch a helpline for labourers.

The helpline will be functional between 7 a.m. and 8 p.m. initially and the callers will be intimated about the action taken on their complaint within four days.

The government also announced the extending insurance benefits under the Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana (RSBY) to all registered and eligible construction workers.

At present, around 52,000 workers are registered as construction labourer out of whom only 2s500 workers are getting assistance under the RSBY.