HEAD LOAD WORK SHOULD BE ABOLISHED - THE WORKERS SHOULD BE TRAINED TO USE MACHINES USED FOR LOADING-UNLOADING - KERALA HC

Justice Devan Ramachandran of the Kerala High Court strongly opined that the practice of head load work should have been abolished a long time ago. Instead, the workers employed in headload work should be trained to use machinery.

"They should be rehabilitated and should be given the training to use machines for the purpose of loading and unloading goods. It is surprising to see the amount of effort they put into their work. The health and quality of life of these workers are terrible".

A firm filed a petition before the Court seeking police protection for its staff from the blockage caused by headload workers during loading-unloading goods. The petitioner submitted that the goods they deal with are fragile and require intensive care but had been obstructed by the headload workers. 

The Court went on to express his disappointment at the fact that practices such as headload and manual scavenging, unfortunately, continue in other parts of the country.

The Court ordered that the petitioner's vehicles must not be blocked by any headload workers. The Judge further reiterated that if any worker has been wrongly denied the engagement, the only lawful course of action is to reach the Headload Workers' Welfare Fund Board which is empowered to take action as per the Act.

Author: Papiha Ghoshal