Image for representation only. FileThiruvananthapuram: District-level committees will be in place in Kerala before March 31 to enforce a ban on the much-hated 'nokku kooli' or gawking charges levied by labour unions. The committees will be presided over by district collectors, and will have representatives drawn from labour unions, traders and entrepreneurs, besides police officers, legislators and labour department officials.
The chief minister had announced in the state assembly that the notorious practise will be banned totally, with effect from May 1. Admitting that the state has been viewed as unfriendly for investments, Pinarayi Vijayan said in the legislature: “The ‘nokku kooli’ and labour supply have earned a bad name for labourers in Kerala. Though all central trade unions oppose these practices, they are continuing unchecked.”
The committees will carry out direct inspection and would also respond to complaints. Campaigns will be organised in areas from where there are extensive complaints of 'nokku kooli' extraction. The labour department will review the performance of the district committees at the state level.
Police officers have been instructed to respond to complaints of 'nooku kooli' with urgency.
Plans for redeployment of head load workers have also been mooted, to help them in case they face hardship once the ban is enforced.
Wage revision only in 3 districts
Unification of wages for loading-unloading workers has been completed only in three districts in the state: Thiruvananthapuram, Ernakulam and Kozhikode. The labour department has instructed district labour officials to complete the exercise in other districts by the first week of April.
The revision of wages gives a hike of up to 30% to beneficiaries. The new rates have been uploaded on the labour commissionerate's official website www.lc.kerala.gov.in. The revised wages are valid until November 30 this year.
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