NHRC, India takes suo motu cognizance of anti-labour practices at one of the warehouses of a multinational company in Haryana’s Manesar

Press release

National Human Rights Commission

New Delhi: 19th June, 2024

NHRC, India takes suo motu cognizance of anti-labour practices at one of the warehouses of a multinational company in Haryana’s Manesar

The Commission expresses concern over the reported allegations despite pro-worker laws and policies of the government

Issues notice to the Secretary, Union Ministry of Labour and Employment calling for a report in one week

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), India has taken suo motu cognizance of a media report that at one of the warehouses of a multi-national company in Haryana’s Manesar, a 24-year-old worker was asked to pledge that they would not take toilet or water breaks until they finished unloading packages from six trucks, each measuring 24 feet long, after their team’s 30-minute tea break had ended. A female employee at the Manesar warehouse reportedly stated that no restroom facilities are available on the working sites. Reportedly, the labour associations in India have accused five warehouses in and around Manesar of violating regulations outlined in the Factories Act, 1948. While labour Inspectors can demand corrections, there is limited enforcement.

The Commission has observed that the contents of the news report, if true, raise a serious issue of human rights of the workers in violation of the labour laws and the guidelines issued by the Union Ministry of Labour and Employment from time to time. Accordingly, the Commission has issued to the Secretary, Union Ministry of Labour and Employment calling for a detailed report in the matter within one week.

Issuing the notice, the Commission has also noted that the government has been insisting on improving workers' living standard. Apart from ensuring proper payment of minimum wages to the workers, government schemes have been introduced to provide social security for the labourers including a safe working environment, safety gear in hazardous working conditions, medical insurance and free annual health check-ups of the workers by the employers. A scheme was started Shramev Jayate” in the year 2014 targeting the country's growth and maximum benefit to the workers. Maternity Benefit Amendment Act, 2017 also came into effect to increase the paid maternity leave from 12 weeks to 26 weeks.

As per the news report, one of the workers, who works ten hours a day for five days a week and earns Rs.10,088/- per month stated that even if they work continuously without breaks, including the 30-minute lunch and tea breaks, they cannot unload more than four trucks per day. A woman worker also claimed that she keeps standing for nine hours daily and is required to evaluate 60 small products or 40 medium-sized products per hour during duty. Reportedly, the multinational company has also encountered similar accusations internationally.

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