Mumbai: Maharashtra Labour Minister Advocate Akash Fundkar has directed officials to conduct a special inquiry into whether 230 contract workers of the Saswad Municipal Council are receiving minimum wages, Provident Fund (PF), Employees' State Insurance (ESI), and other statutory benefits, while ordering the immediate clearance of their seven months of pending wages. The directives were issued during a high-level review meeting held at the Labour Commissioner's office, which was attended by MLA Vijay Shivtare, Additional Chief Secretary of the Labour Department I. A. Kundan, Deputy Secretary Deepak Pokale, and Deputy Secretary Swapnil Kapadnis.
Workers allege arbitrary wage deductions
Addressing the meeting, the Labour Minister highlighted that a total of 230 contract workers have been rendering services to the Saswad Municipal Council for the past 28 years. Despite the nature of their work being regular and perennial, these workers have not yet been absorbed into permanent service. Furthermore, workers have submitted formal complaints alleging that approximately 30 to 40 per cent of their government-sanctioned wages are being arbitrarily deducted under various pretexts.
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Minister orders statutory compliance inquiry
The minister noted serious grievances regarding statutory non-compliance, stating that the Provident Fund contributions for several workers have not been regularly deposited since 2022. Additionally, complaints have surfaced regarding the denial of ESI benefits, minimum wages, weekly off-days, and other legal entitlements. Emphasising that the municipality is the principal employer, Minister Fundkar asserted that it remains the municipal body's legal responsibility to ensure contractors strictly adhere to labour laws. Consequently, he instructed the department to immediately call for a detailed compliance report from the Saswad Municipal Council and initiate strict action against those found responsible for the lapses.
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