MADURAI: V Sathiaseelan (40) from Bethaniapuram, who does centring work at construction sites is a troubled man these days as he is not able to find work after Diwali this year.
The reason: construction industry has come to a standstill in the district due to the skyrocketing of prices of construction materials and the slowdown has taken a heavy toll on him, reports TOI.
With three children, the middle-aged man is struggling to meet the ends meet without any income. Sathiaseelan's case is just one such instance of the one lakh construction workers like him who are all staring at the dark without adequate work in the industry for the last few months.
With agriculture turning dicey without adequate rains, construction is the next big industry to provide employment but the jobs turning scarce. Recently, the construction workers staged a demonstration in Tiruparankundram protesting the lack of work. It is a regular scene in Madurai like any other city as hundreds of construction workers gather in key points (Bethaniapuram, Narimedu, Anna Nagar, Anupanadi, K Pudur bus stand, Jaihindpuram and Vilakkuthoon) where the contractors pick them up for daily wages at construction sites.
"Two years back, we would get our daily work as soon as we reach these spots. However, for the last few months, though we have been gathering regularly, no one calls us for any work. We return home empty-handed worried about the family and daily expenses," lamented Nagarajan, a mason from Narimedu. The daily wages for a mason in Madurai is Rs 600 and assistants will get anywhere from Rs 250 to 300. With severe employment crunch, the workers are ready to bring down their wages but there are no takers. "I am ready to work for whatever amount is offered, but there is no work at all," Nagarajan vented out in frustration.
R Virumandi, a small contractor said that construction activities have slowed down a great deal. Out of 10 contracts they used to get during a particular period some years back, they could hardly get three to four now. "When we don't have contracts how can we employ the workers on site," he asked.
C Subbiah, urban district secretary, Construction Workers Federation of India estimated that there are more than 1 lakh construction workers in Madurai of which 30,000 of them are women. Out of them, 10,000 more workers prefer to go for daily wages and these are the ones who assemble at various points in Madurai everyday seeking jobs. "Not even 30% of the workers are getting daily jobs and we have never come across such a slump in the industry," he stated.
The slowdown in the industry has also affected auxiliary works like painting, plumbing, electrical works, carpentry and many more. M Balamurugan, a painting contractor said the slowdown is snowballing to allied works also. "Without much construction activity, we don't get work and the situation is the same for other professions like plumbing, carpentry, electrical," he said.
During their protest, the workers urged the government to intervene and take timely action. "The major reason for the slowdown is the skyrocketing prices. The government could at least step in, to regulate the sand supply which will be a temporary relief," Subbiah added.
With three children, the middle-aged man is struggling to meet the ends meet without any income. Sathiaseelan's case is just one such instance of the one lakh construction workers like him who are all staring at the dark without adequate work in the industry for the last few months.
With agriculture turning dicey without adequate rains, construction is the next big industry to provide employment but the jobs turning scarce. Recently, the construction workers staged a demonstration in Tiruparankundram protesting the lack of work. It is a regular scene in Madurai like any other city as hundreds of construction workers gather in key points (Bethaniapuram, Narimedu, Anna Nagar, Anupanadi, K Pudur bus stand, Jaihindpuram and Vilakkuthoon) where the contractors pick them up for daily wages at construction sites.
"Two years back, we would get our daily work as soon as we reach these spots. However, for the last few months, though we have been gathering regularly, no one calls us for any work. We return home empty-handed worried about the family and daily expenses," lamented Nagarajan, a mason from Narimedu. The daily wages for a mason in Madurai is Rs 600 and assistants will get anywhere from Rs 250 to 300. With severe employment crunch, the workers are ready to bring down their wages but there are no takers. "I am ready to work for whatever amount is offered, but there is no work at all," Nagarajan vented out in frustration.
R Virumandi, a small contractor said that construction activities have slowed down a great deal. Out of 10 contracts they used to get during a particular period some years back, they could hardly get three to four now. "When we don't have contracts how can we employ the workers on site," he asked.
C Subbiah, urban district secretary, Construction Workers Federation of India estimated that there are more than 1 lakh construction workers in Madurai of which 30,000 of them are women. Out of them, 10,000 more workers prefer to go for daily wages and these are the ones who assemble at various points in Madurai everyday seeking jobs. "Not even 30% of the workers are getting daily jobs and we have never come across such a slump in the industry," he stated.
The slowdown in the industry has also affected auxiliary works like painting, plumbing, electrical works, carpentry and many more. M Balamurugan, a painting contractor said the slowdown is snowballing to allied works also. "Without much construction activity, we don't get work and the situation is the same for other professions like plumbing, carpentry, electrical," he said.
During their protest, the workers urged the government to intervene and take timely action. "The major reason for the slowdown is the skyrocketing prices. The government could at least step in, to regulate the sand supply which will be a temporary relief," Subbiah added.
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