PRESS RELEASE

New Delhi, 9th February, 2016

The National Human Rights Commission has viewed it seriously that in Rajasthan, about 160 posts of Labour Inspectors and a sizeable number of post of Labour Welfare Officers are lying vacant. Mr. Justice D. Murugesan, Member, NHRC, taking suo motu cognizance of the matter, has observed that these Labour Officers are meant for ensuring the implementation of the provisions of the Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Act. Therefore, the sufficient number of Labour Officers should be there.

Accordingly, a notice has been issued to the Chief Secretary, Government of Rajasthan to submit a factual report, within four weeks, indicating the number of sanctioned posts and the number of present strength of the Labour Inspectors and Labour Welfare Officers in all the 33 revenue districts of the State and steps taken to fill up the vacancies.

The matter came to the knowledge of Justice Murugesan while he was chairing NHRC's day-long workshop on 'Elimination of Bonded Labour' for the sensitization of various stakeholders, including senior Government functionaries, at Jaipur on the 29th January, 2016.

The Commission has always emphasized that for effective implementation of the provisions of Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Act, the Vigilance Committee is a must. The Labour Officers are members in the Vigilance Committee at the District and Sub-Divisional level to identify the labourer as bonded labourer. The role of Vigilance Committee assumes importance and the labour officers are required to verify the records to be maintained under Labour Laws. The Labour Officer is the person, who informs the District Magistrate about the prevalence of the bonded labour. Without his assistance, it is difficult for the District Magistrate or the Sub-Divisional Magistrate to identify the bonded labourers. Therefore, the sufficient number of Labour Officers should be there for implementation of the provisions of the Act in full.

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