RAMBAN: Assistant Labour Commissioner (ALC) Ramban Amit Kumar visited Baglihar Hydro Power Project (HPP) to assess the working condition for laborers engaged at the site.

Accompanied by the Labour Officer, the ALC reviewed the records of contractor establishment Sharma Light House, including wage registers, leave records, and other worker welfare provisions. The inspection confirmed compliance with the Minimum Wages Act, Payment of Wages Act, and Contract Labour Act, with no violations detected.

Later, the ALC interacted with nearly 25 workers from Sharma Light House, addressed their concerns and educated them about the benefits of Employees' State Insurance (ESI) and Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) schemes. Workers were also briefed on key labour laws, including the Contract Labour Act, Minimum Wages Act, Payment of Gratuity Act, and Payment of Bonus Act.

Some workers raised concerns regarding pending bonus payments. Taking cognizance of the issue, the Principal Employer of the project was directed to ensure its timely disbursement. Contractors were also instructed to uphold workers' welfare in strict adherence to labour laws.

Furthermore, the JK Samadhan Portal was introduced to the workers, and they were encouraged to register on the JK Samadhan App, enabling them to lodge grievances and track their resolution through a unified digital platform.

The ALC was accompanied by Executive Engineer Generation Division Stage-I, Gopal Singh, and Assistant Executive Engineer Generation Division Stage-I, Ganesh Thakur, along with officials from the labour department.