Panipat factory fire exposes workers’ plight: CITU leader

Mukesh Tandon

Tribune News Service

Panipat, November 29

The recent fire at a spinning mill in which eight persons lost their lives has exposed the inhuman conditions of workers here. Lakhs of migrant workers engaged in textile, spinning and other industrial units continue to work in an unsafe and inhuman environment.

A large number of units are not registered with the Labour Department under the Factories Act. The safety and health of workers takes a hit in these unregulated workstations. The fire has raised questions over the safety of workers.

“The units lack emergency exits, firefighting equipment, sanitation and ventilation. The most stunning fact is that the Labour Department does not have official record of these illegal factories in the district,” said Sunil Dutt, member of the state committee of the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU).

More than 2.5 lakh workers, both skilled and unskilled, worked in these units, of which only 36,500 were registered with the ESI and PF, he said. There were about 12,000 small, medium and micro industries in the city, of which only 2,000 were registered under the Factories Act, he added.

“A survey had been conducted by CITU to know the condition of workers. It revealed that about 20 workers lost their lives annually due to fire or accident in these units,” he stated. About 90 per cent of the workers were from West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, he said.

“The incident was very unfortunate. Directions have been issued for conducting a special survey in the district. It will be conducted ward-wise in urban areas and village-wise in rural areas to know the number of industries in the district,” said Chander Shekhar Khare, Deputy Commissioner.