Status of Contract Workers in the Country

V.V. Giri National Labour Institute   conducted a study  to assess the impact of the proposed amendments to the Contract Labour (Regulation and Abolition) Act, 1970 on the economy and financial implications for the Central and State Governments, including different sectors of productions and employment which  depend on labour as one of their important  inputs.

              The details are as under:

           The estimated contract labour  engaged by licenced contractors as on 31.3.2009 :

(i)                In Central  sphere = 14 lakhs

(ii)              In State sphere     = 46 lakhs

                The number of contract labour not covered under the Contract Labour (Regulation and Abolition) Act, 1970 is estimated to be over five times the number covered.

                The contract labour are being paid less wages than the wages given to the regular workers of Principal Employer even though contract labour perform same or similar kind of work.

                To safeguard the interests of the contract labour further in term of wages and social security, a proposal to amend the Contract Labour (Regulation & Abolition) Act, 1970 is under consideration of the Government.

                        The Minister of State for Labour & Employment Shri  K. Suresh gave this information in reply to a written question in the Rajya Sabha today whether Government has conducted a study on the status of contract workers in the country; the details thereof and  what steps Government proposes to take to end the workers` exploitation in terms of wage, working hour, social security and other benefits.

Source : PIB 5 Dec, 2012