Labour Commissioner visits G’bal, chairs review meeting for Amarnath Yatra

Ganderbal : Labour Commissioner, Jammu and Kashmir, Charandeep Singh today visited Ganderbal and chaired a comprehensive review-cum-awareness meeting to assess preparedness for the Amarnath Yatra 2025 and to ensure effective implementation of labour laws.
The meeting was held at the Conference Hall, Mini Secretariat Ganderbal, and was co-chaired by Manzoor Ahmad Bhat, Additional District Development Commissioner (ADDC), Ganderbal.
The review meeting primarily focused on strengthening inter-departmental coordination for Amarnath Yatra and ensuring statutory compliance by all stakeholders involved in the Yatra arrangements.
Labour Commissioner emphasized the mandatory registration of Executive Engineers as Principal Employers under the Contract Labour (Regulation and Abolition) Act, 1970, and directed the officers to ensure that all engaged contractors are also registered with the Labour department and are extending essential facilities to workers.
He reiterated that workers engaged for Amarnath Yatra, particularly those from other states, must be registered under the Inter-State Migrant Workmen (Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Service) Act, 1979 to safeguard their rights and ensure their welfare.
Furthermore, he highlighted the importance of timely deposit of cess under the Building and Other Construction Workers Welfare Cess Act, 1996 with the designated Cess Collector, i.e., the Assistant Labour Commissioner, to facilitate welfare measures for construction workers.
Speaking on the occasion, ADDC Ganderbal underscored the importance of strict enforcement of labour laws at the grassroots level and suggested that similar awareness programs be held at block and tehsil levels to ensure broader outreach and compliance.
The meeting was attended by Deputy Labour Commissioner Kashmir, Najwan Nazki, Assistant Labour Commissioner Ganderbal; Executive Engineers, Block Development Officers (BDOs), and other senior officers of the district administration and allied departments besides works department and Labour department.
Following the meeting, Labour Commissioner visited the ongoing registration camp at Kangan for Amarnath Yatra service providers, including ponywalas, pithuwalas, and other support personnel. He interacted with the intending service providers and urged them to complete the registration process at the earliest to facilitate the timely issuance of RFID cards, which are mandatory for their participation in the Yatra.
The visit and interactions form part of a broader effort by the Labour Department to ensure that all labour-related aspects of Amarnath Yatra are addressed well in advance, with a strong focus on transparency, accountability, and worker welfare.