A M Kadri, Deputy Secretary, Labour Department, Gujarat government, said: “We have sent the notification for including the ship-breaking industry in the Minimum Wages Act to the Labour minister for his approval. Once he approves, it will be published in the official gazette after obtaining the consent of Legislative and Parliamentary Affairs Department in about two weeks.”

The move will come as a major relief for the unorganised labour force that mainly consists of migrants from Uttar Pradesh, Orissa, Bihar and Jharkhand, making it difficult to carry out a head count.

But even the most conservative estimates put the figure close to 15,000, all of whom continue to live in hutments, with no provisions of clean drinking water and electricity.

Also, not being included in the Act up till now meant that the wages received by the workers of such a hazardous industry are totally market dependent, touching Rs 280 in the boom time and remaining as low as Rs 60 during the normal course. Other benefits included in the Act like regulation of working hours, overtime, weekly holidays, and overtime wages are also not mandatory to be extended to these workers.