In Manesar, Haryana, a multinational company’s warehouse is home to workers whose working conditions have drawn the attention of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) suo motu. The Union Ministry of Labour and Employment has received a notification from the Commission requesting a thorough report in less than a week.
The Commission took action in response to a media revelation that exposed hazardous working conditions at one of the Manesar warehouses, according to a news release from the NHRC. A 24-year-old employee was forced to promise not to use the lavatory or drink water until six 24-foot trucks were unloaded, according to the report, which also included a 30-minute tea break.
A female employee at the same warehouse was also mentioned by the NHRC for her predicament. The Commission said, “The contents of the news report, if true, raise a serious issue of human rights of the workers in violation of labour laws and the guidelines issued by the Union Ministry of Labour and Employment from time to time.” As a result, the Union Ministry of Labour and Employment Secretary has been served with a notice requiring a thorough report on the subject within a week.
The government’s continuous attempts to raise workers’ living standards were also acknowledged by the NHRC. It emphasised programmes like making sure minimum wages are paid correctly, instituting social security programmes, offering a secure workplace, protective gear for hazardous situations, health insurance, and free yearly physicals. The Commission also mentioned the Maternity Benefit Amendment Act of 2017, which increased the duration of paid maternity leave from 12 to 26 weeks, and the ‘Shramev Jayate’ plan, which was introduced in 2014 to optimise benefits for workers.
This development demonstrates the NHRC’s dedication to protecting workers’ human rights and making sure that labour laws and government regulations are followed.