Work at Water Metro’s Vyttila site hit by pending wage issues

70-odd workforce not paid for nearly a month by sub contracting firm

The work at the construction site of a Water Metro office building in Vyttila was disrupted on Tuesday reportedly owing to the non-payment of pending wages to a predominantly migrant workforce by the sub contractor.

Allegedly, the 70-odd workforce, including around 60 migrant workers, has not been paid the wages for nearly a month by the sub contracting firm engaged by the construction firm to which the Kochi Metro Rail Limited originally assigned the work.

“We were told by the original contractor, Mary Matha Construction Company, that they had already paid the sub contractor, who in turn, promised to clear the dues, initially, by Saturday and then by Monday evening. Then they went incommunicado since Tuesday morning following which the entire workforce, including around four workers each affiliated to INTUC and CITU decided to down the tools,” said a worker affiliated to the INTUC on condition of anonymity.