Union Seeks Compensation For Contract Worker Injured On June 21
Key Points:
- AITUC Legal Cell holds press conference on industrial safety lapses
- Contract worker’s hand severed below elbow in June 21 accident
- Union demands audit of safety standards and contractor records
JAMSHEDPUR – The AITUC Legal Cell held a press conference at Bengal Club on Thursday, raising concerns over alleged labour law violations linked to worker exploitation, unsafe workplaces and industrial accidents. The union specifically referred to a June 21 accident at Tata Steel Colors, formerly known as BlueScope.
Legal Cell president and senior advocate Dilip Kumar Mahto said transparency was essential in wages, employment records, social security and safety arrangements for contract workers. He stressed that these issues needed urgent attention from employers and authorities alike.
Legal Cell secretary Girish Kumar Singh referred to the June 21 accident, in which a contract worker’s hand was severed below the elbow while on duty. He said the injured worker needed proper treatment, but also had a right to statutory compensation, social security and rehabilitation.
AITUC Kolhan division general secretary Ambuj Thakur said labour laws should be visible in a worker’s life, not merely on paper. He demanded an inspection of records maintained by industrial establishments and contracting agencies, along with regular audits of safety standards.
The union raised a list of demands, including a fair investigation into the accident, statutory reporting, inspection of safety systems and machinery, verification of the contractor’s licence, appointment and wage records, ESI-PF compliance, compensation and rehabilitation for the injured worker.
AITUC warned that it would pursue legal action before the labour department and judicial forums if the issues were not resolved satisfactorily. The organisation said it would continue to monitor the case closely in the coming weeks.
Those present at the press conference included AITUC patron Birendra Kumar Sinha, deputy general secretary Heera Atkane, vice-president Dhananjay Shukla, Legal Cell vice-president Shashi Bhushan Kumar and co-secretary Suraj Kumar.
The demand for accountability comes amid continuing scrutiny of workplace practices at Tata group units in the region, including recent friction within the Tata Workers’ Union over wage revision anomalies and a separate internal dispute involving a former office bearer.
