Blatant violation of labour laws at CWG sites: CPI-M

A CPI(M) member on Wednesday alleged "blatant violation" of labour laws in the ongoing construction work for Commonwealth Games in Delhi and said over one lakh families had been evicted to "beautify" the capital city.

At least 70 deaths have been reported in connection with the construction activity and there was no clarity on whether compensation was paid to them or not," M B Rajesh said in the Lok Sabha during Zero Hour.

Maintaining that even the Delhi High Court had taken note of the existing working conditions, he said "one lakh people have been evicted from the slums and abandoned on the roadside to beautify the city. And there is no plan to rehabilitate them."

Out of 12 lakh workers at the game sites, only 22,000 were registered, Rajesh said.

He also claimed that there were an estimated 2,000 children between 14-16 years of age who were working at these sites. "It is a gross violation of labour laws," he said.

The CPI(M) member said this was "the human cost of the Commonwealth Games" and demanded stringent action against those involved.