In a significant move to enforce labour laws and ensure operational safety, the Kerala Water Authority (KWA) has issued a strict order prohibiting its employees, particularly those working at pumphouses and water treatment plants, from performing multiple or consecutive shifts. The directive comes from KWA Managing Director P B Nooh.
The Reason Behind the Crackdown
The official order cites serious violations of statutory labour norms, but investigations revealed a deeper issue. It was found that in certain divisions, pump operators—including newly appointed personnel and women employees—were being required to work double or even triple consecutive shifts. This meant some employees were on duty for up to 24 hours at a stretch.
Following these marathon shifts, these employees would then remain absent for several days. This practice not only pushed duty hours far beyond the legal limit but also raised alarms about compromised operational safety and reliability at critical water infrastructure facilities. There were also allegations that some staff members used their prolonged absences to run personal businesses.
Key Directives of the New Order
The order from MD P B Nooh leaves no room for ambiguity. It explicitly states, "No worker shall be deployed in overlapping or consecutive shifts." To implement this effectively, the KWA has mandated senior officials, such as executive engineers and assistant executive engineers in each area, to prepare a detailed shift rotation chart.
The primary goal of this chart is to ensure the smooth operation of pumphouses and water treatment plants without extending the duty hours of any individual employee. Furthermore, the authority has completely prohibited several common but exploitative practices:
- Continuous duty beyond eight hours.
- 'Double duty' or 'extended shift' arrangements.
- 'On-call standby duty' that leads to extended hours.
The only exception to this rule will be during formally declared emergency situations, and that too only with prior written approval from the concerned authorities.
Implications for KWA Operations
This decisive action by the KWA top brass is expected to bring about a major systemic change in workforce management. By enforcing strict eight-hour shifts and eliminating back-to-back duties, the authority aims to protect employee welfare and adhere to labour laws. The move is also designed to enhance the safety and dependability of Kerala's public water supply system by ensuring that staff are well-rested and alert during their shifts. The success of this initiative now hinges on the effective creation and enforcement of the new shift rotation schedules by the supervising engineers across all KWA divisions.
