NHRC notice to Faridabad admn over labour laws’ violation

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has issued a notice to the district authorities seeking a factual report of the matter regarding the rescue of 53 bonded labourers from a brick kiln in April this year. The commission has directed the office of the DC and the Labour Commissioner to submit the reply within four weeks.

“Complainant Nirmal Gorana, convener, National Campaign Committee For Eradication of Bonded Labour (NCCEBL), an NGO based in New Delhi, has lodged a complaint that the 53 labourers that were kept in bondage were rescued from the Bhumiya Bhatta Company located in Ballabgarh subdivision on April 27 this year,” says the notice issued by the NHRC on October 25.

It further says officials that visited the spot allegedly threatened and forced the labourers to sign a false statement prepared by the rescue team rather than recording their accurate statements. As members of a marginalised community belonging to the Scheduled Caste, labourers were trafficked and forcibly held in bondage. As the complainant has requested the release of the labourers, payment of wages, recording of the statements, and a fair investigation, it is found that the inspecting committee as well as the owner has not given its any opinion about any bonded labour, child labour or violation of the applicable labour laws; it has rather simply forwarded the statements of both the sides to the Commission, adds the letter written to the district authorities.

The NHRC has directed the Labour Commissioner and the Deputy Commissioner, Faridabad, to contact the complainant, conduct an inquiry and ensure whether applicable labour laws had been complied with. A copy of the inquiry report and the action taken report (ATR) be submitted to the commission for further necessary action within four weeks. The Deputy Commissioner is also hereby directed to call for explanation from the SDM, Ballabgarh, in respect of the vague report submitted adopting a casual approach and submission of response along with the reply of the SDM to the Commission within four weeks, says the notice.

Gorana alleged that while the administration had violated the Bonded Labour System Abolition Act by not recording the statements of the workers from the very first day, the investigation team, in collusion with the owners, deliberately did adopt anti-labour approach, resulting in gross injustice to workers. Seeking action against officials responsible, he said it was a blatant example of the atrocities against poor migrant labourers, indifference of the administration and non-implementation of the labor law.

Mayank Bhardwaj, SDM, Ballabgarh, said he had joined the office after the said incident and he would look into the matter as soon as the notice was received by his office.

Rescue of 53 bonded labourers

Rescue team officials have been accused of forcing labourers

to sign a false statement. The NHRC has directed the Labour Commissioner and the DC, Faridabad, to conduct an inquiry and ensure whether labour laws had been complied with