×
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

Give construction workers their rights

Last Updated 23 August 2017, 07:09 IST
The indifference of state governments to the welfare of construction workers has been laid bare in a report by the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Labour. The cess being collected for the welfare of construction workers is not being put to use. Of the nearly Rs 32,633 crore that the state welfare boards have collected over the past two decades as construction cess, only Rs 7,516 crore, or less than a quarter, has been spent on the welfare of these workers. Even out of this, nearly Rs 376 crore, or 5%, has been spent on the salaries of officials running the welfare boards. Karnataka collected Rs 3,861 crore in this period, but spent only Rs 240 crore (6.21%); Gujarat spent just 2.23% of the Rs 1,564.64 crore collected. Kerala deserves applause for diligently spending the cess collected on the workers. Of the Rs 1,474.73 crore collected, the state spent Rs 1,455.88 crore (99%) on construction workers’ welfare. It is the only state to have spent over 90% of the welfare fund. Other states should draw inspiration from Kerala’s welfare board.

It was in 1996 that the Building and Other Construction Workers' (Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Service) Act was enacted. The legislation requires building developers and private individuals whose constructions exceeded Rs 10 lakh to pay 1% of the cost of construction towards a workers’ fund. Given the vibrant construction activity that has been going on in the country over the past two decades, even the size of the fund available today seems small. Clearly, under-collection of cess is apparent and construction companies are getting away. This could be due to corruption and lack of diligence on the part of welfare boards. The standing committee also noted that many state welfare boards have not submitted audited accounts to their state governments.

The fund is meant to be used for workers’ medical expenses and treatment in the event of accidents, old age pensions, loans, etc. Construction workers are vulnerable to accidents at the workplace. Especially, with high-rise buildings coming up in most cities, cases of workers falling from heights have increased. Many are left with life-long injuries or disabilities. In the event of death, their families are left without a bread-winner. Having access to financial support would make a big difference to them. Yet, of the country’s estimated 4.6 crore construction workers, only about 2.5 crore are registered with the welfare boards. This perhaps is where beneficial intervention must begin. Registration of workers should be made mandatory and the government and workers’ unions must make construction workers aware of their rights.
ADVERTISEMENT
(Published 21 August 2017, 16:58 IST)

Follow us on

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT