A “Multipurpose Society” aimed at protecting the interests of contract workers in various government departments by ensuring their salaries and other benefits are on the cards in Mandya district.

Sharing this information while addressing a meeting of officials of district administration in Mandya on Saturday, Deputy Commissioner Kumar said there had been frequent complaints about contract workers not receiving their salaries by the 5th of every month, and their Provident Fund (PF) dues were not being remitted regularly.

Hence, he suggested that it would be better to set up a “Multipurpose Society” for contract workers and hire them through the society.

To start with, Dr. Kumar instructed the officials of the Labour Department to compile a list of contract workers hired by all the departments in the district and categorise them by their work. He asked the officials to provide this information to the Labour Department in the prescribed format on a priority basis.

While a minimum of 1,000 members are required to register such a society, Dr. Kumar said it was possible to get 1,000 members from the Departments of Social Welfare, Backward Classes and Minorities welfare alone. Hence, he suggested the officials to prepare the bylaws and start the process of registering the society.

Later, a proposal will be submitted to the government for permission to start the society. By establishing such a society, the contract workers can get extended benefits like health insurance and other facilities, he said.

Dr. Kumar said complaints had been heard about intermediaries forming associations to resolve the grievances of contract workers and collecting money from them. He cautioned the contract workers to be careful about such fraudsters and not become victims of their designs.

District Labour Officer Savitha, Urban Development Cell Project Director Mayanna Gowda, Joint Director of District Industries Centre Dinesh, Deputy Director of Social Welfare Department Siddalingesh, Deputy Director of Backward Classes Welfare Department Manjula, and District Minority Welfare Department officer Madhushree were among the officials who attended the meeting.