Thiruvananthapuram: The state govt will establish dedicated rest centres for gig workers in all 14 districts, labour minister Bindu Krishna said on Wednesday.The minister was speaking after the state-level launch of ‘Gigon’, a new welfare initiative of the labour department for gig workers, in the state capital.In the first phase, Gigon centres have started functioning in Thiruvananthapuram, Ernakulam and Kozhikode cities. The centres will function in two shifts from 8am to 10pm daily, with two employees deployed in each shift for supervision. The project, included in govt’s 100-day action programme, has been allocated Rs 1 crore.The centres will provide gig workers with free facilities including chairs for resting, toilets, drinking water, space to have food, Wi-Fi and mobile phone charging facilities.Govt plans to expand the Gigon centres to more districts in the next phase, the minister said.“The labour department is not confined to office work or files. Whenever workers face wage issues, job loss, safety concerns or denial of basic facilities, the department will stand with them, discuss their problems and work towards resolving them,” the minister said.Govt’s objective is to make Kerala a worker- and employer-friendly state, she added.Ward councillor C Harikumar, labour commissioner Safna Nasrudeen, additional labour commissioner Bichu Balan, representatives of various trade unions and gig workers associated with different platforms attended the function.
