Lok Sabha Question No. 2304 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-08-01
Subject: Welfare of Construction Workers
Ministry: LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
Asked by: YERRAM VENKATA SUBBAREDDY

## MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2304

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 01.08.2016

## WELFARE OF CONSTRUCTION WORKERS

## 2304. SHRI Y.V. SUBBA REDDY:

Will the Minister of LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT be pleased to state:

- (a)whether any scheme/programme is being implemented by the Government
- for welfare and development of construction workers in the country; (b)if so, the details thereof;
- (c)the  details  and  role  of  the  Building  and  other  Construction  Workers Welfare  Board  in  the  area  of  welfare  of  construction  workers  in  the country; and
- (d)the  other  steps  taken/being  taken  by  the  Government  for  welfare  and overall  development  of  workers  including  construction  workers  in  the country?

## ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE (IC) FOR LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT (SHRI BANDARU DATTATREYA)

(a) to (d): The Government has enacted the Building and Other Construction Workers (Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Service)  Act,  1996  and  the  Building  and  Other  Construction  Workers' Welfare  Cess  Act,  1996  to  regulate  the  employment  and  conditions  of service of building and other construction workers and to provide for their safety, health and welfare measures.

As  per  Section  18  of  the  Building  and  Other  Construction Workers  (RECS)  Act,  1996,  the  State  Governments/  UTs  Administration have  constituted  State  Building  and  Other  Construction  Workers  Welfare Board for welfare of construction workers.  Under the Building and Other Construction Workers' Welfare Cess Act, 1996, a cess @ 1% of the cost of construction is collected by the State Governments/UTs Administration and to  the  their  respective  State  Building  and  Other  Construction of given Workers' Welfare Board for meeting the expenses on welfare construction workers.

Under Section 22 of the Building and Other Construction Workers' (Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Service) Act, 1996, functions of the State Building and Other Construction Workers Welfare Boards are as under:

- (a)
- provide immediate assistance to a beneficiary in case of accident;
- (b) make payment of pension to the beneficiaries who have completed  the age of sixty years;
- (c) sanction  loans  and  advances  to  a  beneficiary  for  construction  of  a houses not exceeding such amount and on such terms and conditions as may be prescribed;
- (d) pay such amount in connection with premia for Group Insurance Scheme of the beneficiaries as it may deem fit;
- (e) give  such  financial  assistance  for  the  education  of  children  of  the beneficiaries as may be prescribed;
- (f) meet  such  medical  expenses  for  treatment  of  major  ailments  of  a beneficiary or, such dependent, as may be prescribed;
- (g) make payment of maternity benefit to the female beneficiaries; and
- (h) make provisions and improvement of such other welfare measures and facilities as may be prescribed.

The  State  Governments/  UT  Administrations  have  formulated their own schemes in terms of Section 22 of the Act.

Central Government has been issuing directions under Section of State proper

60 of the Building and Other Construction Workers (Regulation Employment and Conditions of Service) Act, 1996, to the Governments/ UTs Administration from time to time for implementation of the Acts.

The  Central  Government  vide  order  dated  8th  October,  2015, issued  under  Section  60  of  the  Building  and  Other  Construction  Workers (RECS) Act, 1996, has directed the State/ UTs to ensure coverage of death and disability due to accident, natural death, pension during old age, health & maternity benefit, financial support for primary & secondary education and skill training for construction workers and their wards.

Further, the Central Government vide Order dated 9th September, 2015, constituted a Committee under the Chairmanship of Secretary (Labour and Employment) to monitor the implementation of directions issued under Section 60 of the Act, specifically with reference to utilization of Cess fund for Welfare Schemes enumerated under Section 22 of the Act, by State/UTs

Welfare Board.

The  Monitoring  Committee  held  its  meetings  on  23 rd   November, 2015,  6th  January, 2016,  6 th  April, 2016 and 21 st  July, 2016 with the Principal Secretaries/ Secretaries, Labour department of State/ UTs.

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