Why in news?

Recently 32 workers died and another 100 had grievous injuries in a major public sector thermal power plant.

What caused the deaths?

• The high pressure steam boiler was supposed to have been shut down to rectify technical problems.
• Yet, it was still running even as workers were asked to manually remove the ash that had collected in the boiler as a result of the malfunction.
• The pressure built up in the boiler and lead to the blast.
• There were around 300 workers in the vicinity.
• Surely, this could have been avoided had the safety of workers been a priority.

Who were affected?

• Majority of the workers affected were migrant contract workers.
• This is a ploy used by many large industrial units.
• They maintain smaller number of permanent workers who are covered under labour laws.
• Much of the works, often the more hazardous tasks, are farmed out to contractors who employ casual workers.
• These workers have no health insurance in the event of accidents or exposure to hazards.

What does the event signify?

• It has exposed the callous disregard for worker safety and the violation of labour laws in India.
• Today, under the excuse of enhancing the “ease of doing business,” workers’ safety laws are being deliberately diluted in many states.
• Since 2014, there have been proposed amendments to the Contract Labour (Regulation and Abolition) Act, 1970, the Factories Act, 1948, and the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947.
• Even the Indian Boiler Regulations, 1950 that required inspection and certification by the Central Boilers Board, have been changed to permit self-certification.
• This had led to a very little oversight to ensure the safety regulations.
• Furthermore, there are proposals to dilute laws governing contract labour.
• Under the existing law, the NTPC can be held liable for all workers, permanent and contract.
• The amendments could change to the detriment of the rights of contract workers.
• The government has introduced the Shram Suvidha Portal that permits employers to “self-certify” compliance to 16 central labour laws.
• Such “self-certification” has been proved to be a fraud in compliance with environmental laws.

What should be done?

• Even in the best-maintained industries, there can be accidents.
• These can be prevented, and their effects minimised if there is no compromise on routine maintenance and the workers’ safety laws are water tight.