Workers are your responsibility: Tamil Nadu CM to firms

CHENNAI: After several instances of migrant labourers stranded in various districts were reported in Tamil Nadu, CM Edappadi K Palaniswami stepped in to say that all employers, who have engaged migrant labourers, were responsible for their basic needs, including food and accommodation.
The CM asked district collectors to ensure that employers adhered to the instruction. Two more special teams have also been formed to look into the issues of migrant labourers.
The CM, in a statement, said if the present accommodation of the migrant workers were congested, they should be provided with alternative accommodation.For migrant labourers, who moved away from their workplaces and are stranded in various cities and railway stations, the collectors of the respective districts should shift them to temporary shelters and provide them with food and medical care. These could be arranged with funds from the state disaster relief fund, he said.
In addition to the nine special teams constituted so far, two more teams comprising senior IAS officials would be formed to look into the needs of migrant labourers, students from other states, elderly, destitute and persons with disabilities.
The CM said schools, colleges and private firms can engage two or three employees from March 30 to April 1 to prepare payroll for disbursement of salary. Special permission will be granted through collectors and the Greater Chennai Corporation commissioner.