Contract workers, gate passes and biometrics: who is responsible for their data?
Short answer: You are, for data used at your plant; agencies act for you under contract
Your company decides why contract workers' data is collected at your plant: gate access, attendance, safety and the records the Labour Codes ask for. So for that data you are responsible, even when a manpower agency or contractor collects it. Agencies need a contract with data terms. Collect only what the gate and the law need, and delete biometric templates and photos when a worker leaves.
Section 7 covers purposes of employment and duties under law. Section 8(1) keeps you responsible for processors. Section 8(7) asks for erasure when the purpose is over. Section 7 · Section 8(1)–(2) · Section 8(5) · Rule 6 · Section 8(7) · Rule 8 · Section 5 · Rule 3
- List what is collected for each contract worker: ID, photo, biometric, bank details, medical fitness.
- Remove what the gate and the Labour Codes do not need.
- Give a short notice in the worker's language at enrolment.
- Add a data schedule to every agency and contractor contract.
- Delete templates and photos at exit; keep only the registers the law requires.
- Enrolment field list with reasons
- Notice in local languages
- Signed agency data schedules
- Exit deletion log
- Agencies keeping their own copies of Aadhaar cards
- Templates of workers who left years ago
- Worker lists shared with contractors on chat groups