Rajesh Gupta
Jammu, Jan 15: An complaint has been filed by one Social activist, M.S.Poswal against officials of JMC and NGO's who are deducting amount from unskilled, skilled and highly skilled employees salary on merely name of ECI and PF but not in letter and spirit. Fearing that they can face termination of their services any time by the contractors, the contractual Safai Karamcharis and other engaged for Jammu Municipal Corporation through NGO's, are forced to suffer in silence, the violation of their rights.
It added that the contractors deduct Rs 20 from daily wages of each worker, since they are engaged through NGOs, so they can’t raise their voice against this ‘organised’ loot of their wages, if they say all this publically, they will terminate them from services without giving any reason.
The contract system to hire sweepers by Jammu Municipal Corporation was reportedly started in 2005. Several hundred workers are hired by the JMC on daily basis through the NGO's and they deduct Rs 20 from each worker, against Rs 225 a daily wage paid by the civic body. Though to justify their loot, the NGOs claim that this amount is being deducted for Provident Funds (PF), Employee State Insurance (ESI) and Medical Insurance (MI). But reportedly not a single penny has been deposited with concerned agencies by the NGO's despite it gets Rs 6150 out of Rs 6750 a fixed monthly salary.
The JMC gives money to NGOs at a rate of Rs 225 per day, but the NGOs keep aside Rs 600 per month from the salary of each worker, deposit remaining Rs 6150 in their bank accounts.
It is sufficient for any government agency to expose the loot of their hard-earned money because the government agencies can access records from JMC, NGOs and Provident Funds Organisation and other concerned agencies.
It is pertinant to mention here that recently a family spent Rs 10 lakhs for the treatment of their son, who met a road accident while returning home from his duty. Since he was not covered under ECI or Medical Insurance, his parents borrowed money from their relatives and friends for his treatment. He has undergone three surgeries in a private hospital in Punjab.
In another case, a Safai Karamchari died in a road accident while returning home from his duty at High Court Complex. When family members gone to Provident Fund Commissioner’s Office to withdraw his dues. They was surprised, when they saw detail of PF deposited by their contractor.
The deceased was working with the NGO since 2013, but the contractor deposited a meager amount in the year 2016-17. By the end of June 2019, the contractor had deposited Rs 14040 in account of deceased worker, whereas, there should have been more than Rs 40,000 on the part of employer and similar contribution from the employee.
Presently, the JMC has reportedly around 1150 Safai Karamcharis hired through NGOs. Many of them now doubt and informally complaint that these NGOs are not depositing the deducted amount with concerned agencies.
It added that, around 570 Safai Karamcharis have been engaged in the city through NGO including computer operators, while 530 Safai Karamcharis employed for the out sourced wards of JMC.
Safai Karamcharis engaged through contractor (Jammu Sanitation Club) are availing benefits of ESI and PF, but others hired through NGOs are getting no such benefits.
At present in Jammu, there are several NGOs including Sai Baba, Association Seed, Society Sanitation and Talent Club etc.which are providing Karamchari's on contract basis to the JMC.
As per labour Act, it is mandatory for any employer to provide ESI and PF facilities to the employees Whether it’s an NGO or contractor, it does not make any difference to it, it is mandatory for everyone to insure their employees through ESI and the PF as well.
After becoming J&K a Union Territory also need to be implement labour wages rate as per Act of UT, which speaks from the above snapshots.
So, if complaints proved as true, then it is a matter of great concern to look into & to hold enquiry and take strict action against all whoever found deducting illegally hard earned money of poor unskilled labourers, skilled and higly skilled employees of JMC by greecing their palm in association with officials of JMC and NGO's.
However, copy of complaint has retained by CTN for further persual.
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