Lok Sabha Question No. 235 (STARRED), answered on 2026-03-09
Subject: Welfare of Construction Workers in Tamil Nadu
Ministry: LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
Asked by: Shri Selvam G, Shri C N Annadurai

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT LOK SABHA

## STARRED QUESTION NO. 235

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 09.03.2026

## WELFARE OF CONSTRUCTION WORKERS IN TAMIL NADU

*235. SHRI SELVAM G: SHRI C N ANNADURAI:

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

- (a) whether the Government has reviewed the availability of welfare facilities and social security benefits for construction labourers in Tamil Nadu under the Building and Other Construction Workers (BOCW) Act and other related Centrally Sponsored Schemes, if so, the details thereof;
- (b) the total number of registered construction workers in the State and  the  number  out  of  them  receiving  benefits  such  as  health insurance, accident cover, pension, maternity support and education assistance during the last three years and the current year, year-wise;
- (c) whether delays in registration, renewal and disbursal of welfare benefits have affected construction workers, particularly migrant and informal labourers;
- (d)  the details of the funds allocated, released and utilised for the welfare  of  construction  workers  in  Tamil  Nadu  during  the  last three years and the current year, year-wise; and
- (e) the details of the steps taken/being taken by the Government to strengthen  registration  drives,  improve  portability  of  benefits, ensure safe working conditions and enhance access to housing, healthcare and social security for construction labourers in the State?

## MINISTER OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT (DR. MANSUKH MANDAVIYA)

(a) to (e): A statement is laid on the Table of the House.

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STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (a) TO (e) OF LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 235 DUE FOR REPLY ON 09.03.2026 BY SHRI SELVAM  G  AND  SHRI  C  N  ANNADURAI REGARDING  'WELFARE  OF CONSTRUCTION WORKERS IN TAMIL NADU'

(a) to (e): 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 are subsumed in the Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code, 2020 (OSH & WC Code, 2020) and the Code on Social Security, 2020 (CoSS, 2020). These codes have come into force from 21.11.2025.

The  Central  Government  through  National  and  Regional Conferences  with  Labour  Departments  in  States/UTs,  reviews  the progress on implementation of the codes including CoSS, 2020 and OSH & WC Code, 2020.

The  local  authority  or  such  other  authority  notified  by  the State Government are mandated under CoSS, 2020 to collect the cess levied at the  prescribed rate by the Central Government and deposit the same to State Building and Other Construction Workers Welfare Board (BOCW Board).The State BOCW Boards are empowered and entrusted for making  provisions  for  providing  Social  Security  and  welfare  schemes relating to life and disability cover, pension, insurance, medical treatment of major health and maternity cover, financial assistance for education of  wards of  the  registered  Building  and  Other  Construction Workers (BOCW), transit housing, skill development, awareness programmes, and other etc.

As per data received from the State Govt. of Tamil Nadu, a total number of 25,42,135 BOC workers are registered with their Board. As  reported  by  State  Government  of  Tamil  Nadu,  the  details  of  fund utilized for construction workers under various schemes, are as under:

| Year                      | Beneficiaries   | Amount (in Rs.)   |
|---------------------------|-----------------|-------------------|
| 2022-2023                 | 4,88,985        | 378,86,11,321     |
| 2023-2024                 | 4,99,047        | 508,07,24,737     |
| 2024-2025                 | 7,45,912        | 691,37,13,496     |
| 2025-2026 (till Jan 2026) | 7,41,814        | 1047,47,42,606    |

The State Government of Tamil Nadu has informed that it has taken various steps for registration of BOC workers and migrant workers viz.  special registration camps, registration facility on the web portal, online Village Administrative Office (VAO) verification, renewal facility for registration through the web portal. Benefit Claim applications are processed through online submission by the worker / nominee on the web portal  and  all  financial  assistances  are  disbursed  directly  to  the beneficiaries' bank account through Electronic Clearing Service (ECS). It has been informed that there are no delays in registration, renewal and disbursal of welfare benefits.

CoSS,2020 has the provision of registration of BOC workers as a beneficiary under BOCW Board. For strengthening the machinery for registration  and  welfare  of  constructio n  workers,  a  'Model  Welfare Scheme and Action Plan for strengthening the implementation machinery had been formulated and circulated by the Central Government to all the States/UTs for its strict compliance.

OSH  &  WC  Code 2020 provides for the standard on occupational safety, health and working conditions of building and other construction  workers.  The  Code  provides,  inter  alia,  for  free  annual health check-up, provision of free temporary living accommodation, safe drinking  water,  canteen  facilities,  protective  equipment  and  safety devices,  first  aid  etc.  The  Code  also  stipulates  formation  of  Safety Committees  consisting  of  employer  and  worker  representatives  to monitor  safety  practices  in  establishments  employing  250  or  more construction workers and provisions for appointment of safety officer.

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