Death due to Lightning: Labourers were not registered with dept

Karam Prakash

Tribune News Service

Patiala, October 3

A day after three construction workers were killed when lightning struck them at Rai Mal Majra village in Bhadson block in the district, it has come to the fore that the deceased were not registered with the Labour Department.

We are trying our best to provide compensation under the BOCW Act at the earliest. Besides, we will also look for any other scheme under which family members of the deceased can be provided compensation. — Jagpreet Singh, Assistant Labour Commissioner

The incident, once again, has exposed the tall claims of the Labour Department regarding updation of registration of construction workers. Had they been registered, they would have been fully compensated as per the Building and Other Constructions Workers (BOCW) Act.

Meanwhile, a team of labour officials visited the village today to meet family members of the deceased and collect documents for compensation. Had the labourers been registered, they would have got Rs4 lakh each. Now, they will get only half the money.

Jagpreet Singh, Assistant Labour Commissioner, said labour officials had already collected the necessary documents of the deceased, and he would ask the higher-ups to move the file for compensation. “We are trying our best to provide compensation under the BOCW Act at the earliest. Besides, we will also look for any other scheme under which family members of the deceased can be provided compensation.”

Asked about why the workers were not registered by the department, Jagpreet said, “Awareness camps have already been conducted by officials. Besides, more teams will be sent at brick kilns to register workers in the coming days.”

Meanwhile, it has been learnt that the deceaseds’ families can get a compensation of Rs5 lakh each under the Employees Compensation Act.

Vijay Walia, an activist fighting for the rights of construction workers, said the family members should approach the District Legal Services Authority (DLSA) for free legal aid. He said, “The DLSA is a watchdog for the rights of unorganised labour under the NLSA Unorganised Workers Scheme, 2015. The DLSA should ensure that family members get timely compensation without any hassle and middleman.”