The death of 14 construction workers in the scaffolding accident at Sterling Apartments, Peddar Road, on Thursday was followed by another worker's death on Saturday at Marine Drive. In this case, Tannu Chhada (30) slipped from the fourth floor at around 12.30 pm while climbing down from the sixth floor of Matruchchaya Building. The work was being handled by contractors Chhotelal & Sons.

For the workers, the choice seems to be between two forms of death. By starvation or an accident. Having come all the way from Orissa or Andhra Pradesh to fight hunger, dying honourably with their work shoes on seems to be a better option. As the blank look in the eyes of Kishore Kumar Majhi an Oriya worker at Sterling Apartments denoted. The safety rope that is tied to the scaffolding wasstill around his waist when he was trying to comprehend the immensity of the accident. ``We have never been told of any compensation'', he pointed out.

It was a far cry from the scene the next day when cell phone toting personnel measured the damage caused to the building, and refused to allow this reporter from entering the premises to talk to the workers. ``Even if there is a workman's compensation as under the act, these are invariably given to them only after six to seven months,'' says a builder. And even here, the compensation is diluted since it is invariably proved that the mishap occured due to the carelessness of the worker. ``With most of these workers being migrant labourers, how can you expect any of them to follow up for the compensation?'' the builder asked.

Attempts to unionise the workers have also fallen flat. M A Patil, a veteran in unionising workers in the unorganised sector from Anganwadi to forest workers - around 12,000 forest workers were made permanent recently - also seems tohave given up. ``The movement is lacking in momentum,'' he says. One of the proposals he put forth was to set up a board for the recruitment of construction workers on the lines of the board for mathadi workers, so that their working hours, salaries and compensation could be regulated. Predictably, the proposal put forward last year to the state government was rejected.

``There is no pressure from workers either. There is such a low level of awareness,'' Patil bemoans. Also, the very nature of work done by them defeats the enthusiasm. Unlike mathadi workers whose jobs are continuous, construction workers, who work in the unregulated construction industry, themselves live from one site to the other. From one employee to the other. Patil speaks of the numerous naka workers in Thane he was trying to unionise. A simple request to the Thane municipal commissioner to give them sheds to save them from the rains is still pending with T Chandrashekhar. ``He says the sheds could interfere with the beautification ofthe city,'' he laments.

According to the Construction and Other Miscellaneous Workers Welfare Act, a contractor or a subcontractor would have liabilities only if he has more than 50 workers under him. ``So most of the labour contractors have about 48-49 workers to keep them above law,'' points out Patil. With communities marked out for job specialities -- Andhraites for concrete work, Oriyas for miscellaneous works, UPites for carpentry -- it becomes easier for labour contractors to source their workers. ``If a huge workforce is required a labour contractor just goes to these states and transports the entire village,'' said the builder.

A ray of hope lies in the Union government's desire to pass a bill to regularise the construction workers' livelihood and give certain guarantees. Of course, it must pass through the regular bureaucratic channels. When questioned about the information the Centre is asking from the state on the bill, an undersecretary of the labour department said it was confidential andbanged the phone down.