Government told to pay minimum wages to Games workers

Expressing concern over the plight of workers at Commonwealth Games' construction sites, the Delhi High Court Thursday ordered the government to ensure payment of minimum wages and supply of safety gear to them.

A division bench of acting Chief Justice Madan B. Lokur and Justice Mukta Gupta said the workers should be registered under the labour law and more attention should be given to their security and avoiding accidents.

The Delhi government agreed to register all the workers at construction sites within the next two weeks and issue them identity cards. With this, the workers will start getting basic facilities like a minimum wage and medical care at the construction sites.

The court on Jan 27 ordered a five-member committee, including former United Nations ambassador Arundhati Ghosh, the labour commissioner and the labour secretary, to conduct inspections at Commonwealth Games sites.

The court had ordered the inspection on a public interest petition filed by non-government organisation People's Union For Democratic Rights.

"The labourers are working and living in highly dangerous and deplorable conditions. They get less than the minimum stipulated wage and have no access to basic sanitation and health facilities and safety equipment," the petition stated.

The committee had also substantiated the complaints in the petition. Its report said the labourers were not being given additional money for working extra time.