These are rights of employees, employers must ensure them; strict punishment for violation

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Labour Minister V Sivankutty has asked officials to ensure that employers comply with the instructions in the Labour Department circular that employers should provide seating, umbrellas to protect against adverse weather, drinking water and other basic facilities to security employees working in shops, open areas and other commercial establishments in the state.

The Labor Department has issued a circular to ensure basic facilities including seating in the wake of the observation that security employees working in establishments such as hotels and restaurants operating along major roads such as National Highways and State Highways often work in the sun for hours to make sure that customers reach their establishments.

Employers should provide day/night reflective coats, hats, umbrellas, drinking water and safety glasses as per safety standards to employees working in hot and harsh weather. District Labor Officers should ensure that employers comply with this directive. For this, squads should be formed under the leadership of District Labor Officers and inspections should be conducted in the security sector.

It should be ensured that minimum wage, overtime pay, due leaves and other employment benefits are being received. It should also be ensured that the institution is registered under the Wage Security Scheme, he said. The Minister said that action will be taken against employers if violations are found and the instructions in the circular are not followed.