Title - Kochi Metro project: Labour department wants workforce registered

KOCHI: Following labour trouble at construction sites, the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC), which is executing the Kochi Metro project, and the labour department have decided to keep a record of sub-contractors and labourers employed by them.This has been necessitated since is because the three main contractors have not provided such details. The labour department requires this information in case of accidents at work sites involving labourers.The over Rs 5,000-crore project is being implemented to a large extent largely through sub-contractors. While the DMRC only deals directly with the three main contractors - Larsen and Toubro (L&T), Soma Constructions and Era Infa Engineering Ltd - it does "not keep track of sub-contractors" involved in the construction of Metro. According to the labour department, only one sub-contractor has so far registered with them and they have no clue about the others involved in the construction. They do not even have figures of the number of workers involved.

Though sub-contracts are an accepted practice in the construction industry, both the principal employer and contractors have to register with the department. The labour department has decided to issue notice to the main contractors asking them to register with it and provide details on sub-contractors. It also claimed that since the Metro is a public sector undertaking, the project owner, Kochi Metro Rail Ltd (KMRL), was the principal employer. The Metro agency has to ensure their contractors are registered with the department.

While activities like conducting surveys, soil testing, chopping of trees, road widening and the like are done by sub-contractors, works such piling are generally executed by main contractors.

According to DMRC, when works that cost above Rs 50 lakh are awarded to sub-contractors, they have to be informed. "In the case of Kochi Metro, contractors such as L&T are involved in executing main works. Sub-contracts are the responsibility of main contractors and they have to ensure the quality of work undertaken by these agencies," said a DMRC spokesperson.

The Metro authority reiterated that irrespective of all contracts, they were responsible and accountable for safety measures adopted at construction sites.