Need to abolish contractor system: Kejriwal
IAS OFFICERS SHOULD BE PAID ON THE BASIS OF THE CALORIES THEY NEED IF LABOURERS ARE PAID THAT WAY, SAID KEJRIWAL
NEW DELHI : Stressing the need to abolish the “thekedari system (contractor system)” for the benefit of workers, Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday assured workers of strict action against contractors who were not abiding by the minimum wages standards.
Addressing a gathering of contractual labours at Constitution Club on Labour Day, he said: “The contractor system must end. It is inhuman, against the law and the Constitution and yet, it continues. Had Delhi been a full state, we would have ended it and regularised all contractual labourers in 10 days. Unfortunately, my hands have been tied.”
Kejriwal took a dig at bureaucrats, saying the wage hike committee decided that labourers needed 2,700 calories a day. “Workers are human, not animal... He has to educate his children, buy clothes and sometimes watch a movie with his family. Is it wrong? ... If labourers’ wages would be based on the minimum food requirement of 2,700 calories a day, then IAS officers too should be paid on the basis of the calories they need,” he said.
Kejriwal said the maximum exploitation of workers was happening in the existing system of hiring labourers on a contractual basis, which continues to be prevalent even in government bodies.
“Many workers are being paid as per minimum wages but I still see that there are a lot of contractors who don’t pay their workers the prescribed amount,” he said, adding that the matter related to whether the Delhi government can take action against erring contractors was pending in the high court.
“I am certain the court will rule in favour of the workers. I want to warn all the erring contractors that if such an order comes, I will be on the street myself to take strict action against offenders,” he said.
Hitting out at the Bjp-led Centre, Kejriwal further said that Delhi had such an arrangement where “public elects a CM but powers lies in L-G’S hands”.
“We raised the minimum wages to Rs 13,500 but had to face lots of hardships in getting it cleared from the lieutenant-governor’s office. When the file was sent to the L-G, he said approval was not taken before forming the committee to decide on minimum wages. I did several movements but have never seen such a dictatorship,” Kejriwal said.
He said the government was committed to give the children of labourers a better life and that was why his government was working tirelessly to improve the condition of government schools, hospitals in the city.