Ferozepur January 22, 2019: Demanding strict enforcement of the Labour Law, today Brick-Kiln Labourers Union hold a meeting under the support of Sukhdev Singh, President at Saragarhi Gurudwara and accused the Brick-kiln owners of not paying the government rate to the labourers.
Sukhdev Singh said the existing government rate is Rs.480 per thousand bricks and Rs.764 for tiles while the brick-kiln owners are paying Rs.320 per thousands for bricks beside charging Rs. Five thousand for the electricity bill.
He said a memorandum to this effect has also been given to the Labour Commissioner, Ferozepur without any fruitful results. Hardly any norms are followed by the brick-kiln owners with regard to marking of attendance or maintaining of the register while making payment.
Expressing concern over the apathy of the labour class, he said, in the event of the death of any labourer, no compensation is paid.
Mukhtiar Singh Sr.Vice President demanded that government should introduce the contributory provident fund by the brick-kiln owners as social security when he is not able to do the work or to meet out their requirement in the rainy season when there is no work.
A few months back, the government had ordered the shutting down the kilns in a bid to tackle the hazard of smog as brick kilns are recognized as one of the largest stationary sources of black carbon and along with iron and steel production.
Vice President said the closure of the brick-kilns have disturbed the financial condition of the labourer while the rate of bricks have been increased to Rs.6,000 per thousand bricks. The labour class is being exploited with one or the other reasons.
Giving a warning the leaders said, in case the government rate is not introduced within a fortnight, we will be compelled to sit on dharna in front of the office of the Labour Commissioner.