Srinagar: The State Human Rights Commission has termed non-payment of wages to Casual Labourers of Stores Procurement Department of Pampore as “bonded labour” and has directed Commissioner Secretary Public Works Department to make the due payments within two weeks.
A SHRC bench headed by Justice (retd) Bilal Nazki passed the orders after concerned officials at Stores Procurement Department admitted the daily wagers, 11 each from Kashmir and Jammu, despite discharging their duties have not been paid from 8 to 9 month. “It appears to be a case of simple bonded labour where people are made to perform jobs without payment of wages,” observed chairperson of the SHRC.
These persons are getting meagre wages of Rs.4000 per month and that amount was also not paid for the last 9 months, the SHRC said.
While taking serious note of it, the Commission directed the Commissioner Secretary Public Works Department to make the due payments to these persons both from Kashmir and Jammu regions within a period of two weeks.
“In case of failure the Commission will be constrained to take steps in terms of Provisions of the J&K Protection of Human Rights Act, 1997,’ the SHRC said and directed that the compliance report shall be filed by the Commissioner Secretary PWD by or before November 29.
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