Hundreds of migrant construction workers labouring at a multi-building project in the Sitabuldi area have not been registered under any government scheme, leaving them without identity cards, health coverage, insurance, or access to welfare benefits.
Workers from Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, and Chhattisgarh are engaged in construction of a divisional office building, boys’ and girls’ hostels, and the Chhatrapati Sahu Maharaj Research Training Centre — a project under way for two years.
They work nine to twelve hours daily in heat and dust, living in temporary tin-sheet sheds on site. Women workers said clean drinking water is not available. Ranjit Sih from Chhattisgarh said no official had ever visited to inspect conditions or inform workers of their rights.
Registration of every construction worker and issuance of an identity card is mandatory under labour law. Contractors are primarily responsible for completing this process, which requires a certificate proving 90 days of work.
“The number of migrant construction workers cannot be stated. If working within NMC limits, an authorised officer issues the certificate. The contractor must take the initiative,” said Rajdeep Dhurve, Assistant Labour Commissioner, Nagpur.
Mohammed Alam, a worker at the site, said workers are effectively told to accept conditions or lose the job. Mohammed Salim said: “We work every day but our names exist nowhere. If something happens, who will help us?”
Without registration, workers have no recourse in the event of accidents, illness, or sudden loss of work.
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