Srinagar: In a significant move to bolster the enforcement of labour laws in the Union Territory, Labour Commissioner, Jammu and Kashmir, S. Charandeep Singh, Friday undertook an official visit to Shopian district, where he chaired a comprehensive review meeting with the district administration and executive agencies.
The meeting was held at the Conference Hall of the Mini Secretariat Shopian and witnessed participation from Dr. Nasir Ahmad, Additional District Development Commissioner (ADDC) Shopian, along with Executive Engineers, Block Development Officers (BDOs), and Senior Officers from the Works and Labour Departments.
The primary agenda of the meeting was to strengthen inter-departmental coordination to ensure strict compliance with labour laws across all sectors.
Labour Commissioner laid particular emphasis on the mandatory registration of Executive Engineers as Principal Employers under the Contract Labour (Regulation and Abolition) Act, 1970.
He also directed officers to ensure that all contractors engaged in government and private works are duly registered with the Labour department. This, he said, is essential to safeguarding the rights of workers particularly regarding timely payment of wages, occupational safety and health standards, and overall worker welfare.
Later in the day, Labour Commissioner visited various project sites in the district. At Allowpora Shopian, he inspected the under-construction bridge and a construction site for migrants.
During these visits, he interacted with workers and project management, seeking first hand feedback on critical issues like wage disbursement, workplace safety, health provisions, transit accommodation for migrant workers, and awareness of the Building and Other Construction Workers (BOCW) Welfare Act.
Continuing his visit, Labour Commissioner also inspected the Mega Cold Storage Projects at Fruit Mandi Aglar, Shopian. Here, he underscored the importance of strict adherence to all labour laws, particularly in large-scale and labour-intensive infrastructure projects. He also examined on-site health facilities and reiterated that worker welfare must remain a top priority.
The visit highlighted the administration’s commitment to improving labour conditions and ensuring that development goes hand-in-hand with dignity, safety, and legal protection for all workers.
