Mysuru books 107 employers for underpaying adolescent labourers

Mysuru: Department of labour has stepped up action in Mysuru district, booking 107 employers for not paying minimum wages to adolescent labourers and recovering Rs 3.8 lakh in penalties.

Employers who employ adolescents and fail to pay minimum wages face criminal and civil penalties under the Child and Adolescent Labour Act and the Minimum Wages Act, according to the rules.

Over the last three years, officials conducted raids at 4,351 workplaces, including industries, hotels, brick manufacturing units, puffed rice units, and garages, across the district’s urban and rural areas.

During these raids, eight child labourers aged below 14 were rescued. Officials said the children were rehabilitated, action was recommended against their employers, and cases were filed.

Authorities also identified 107 employers employing adolescent labourers and paying less than the prescribed wages, cheating such workers. As adolescents are permitted by law to work in non-hazardous sectors, these employers were found to be misusing the provisions during inspections.

Speaking to TOI, district labour officer Chethan Kumar said the department is regularly conducting raids against child labour and penalising employers as per the law. The penalty collected was used to rehabilitate adolescent workers in the district, he said.

Child Helpline

If members of the public find employers engaging child labourers or underpaying adolescent workers, they can file complaints with Child Helpline 1098 or the labour department helpline 155214, the district labour officer said.