As per Building and Other Construction Workers (Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Service) Act, 1996 every building worker who is between the age of 18 to 60 years and who has been engaged in any building and other construction work for not less than 90 days during the last 12 months is eligible as a beneficiary of the Building and Other Construction Workers Welfare Fund.  Application for registration is to be made in the prescribed form and is to be accompanied with prescribed documents by construction worker. Registration is voluntary and not mandatory.  As per the directions of the Hon’ble High Court of Delhi, the Government of NCT of Delhi has undertaken the work of registration of building workers and issue of passbook as beneficiaries under Building and Other Construction Workers Welfare Board.  A total number of 25,682 construction workers, including workers working in Commonwealth Games sites and Metro Rail Projects, have been registered with Delhi building and other construction workers Welfare Board as on 31.03.2010.

42 workers have died in connection with working on various Commonwealth Games Sites whereas 16 workers have died on Delhi Metro Railway sites.  Further, 18 workers have suffered injuries while working at different sites of Delhi Metro Railway.  FIRs have been registered by Police Authorities against the defaulting employers.  The reasons for accident found are mostly technical in nature.  78 prosecutions have been filed and 41 convictions have been awarded for violation the provisions of safety and health measures.

The main responsibility for implementing the Acts lies with the respective State Governments.  The Central Government has been interacting with the State Governments for speedy implementation of these Acts.  A Special Group has been constituted under the chairmanship of Secretary, Labour and Employment to monitor and review the implementation of Building and Other Construction Workers (Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Service) Act, 1996 as per the directions of Prime Minister’s Office.  The Group has held 20 such meetings so far.  Apart from this, issues concerning construction workers were one of the agenda items discussed in State Labour Ministers Conference held on 22^nd January, 2010 in New Delhi.  It was impressed upon the State Governments that concerted efforts need to be made for speedy implementation of the Act.  The Minister for Labour and Employment has recently written to Chief Minister of States/UTs requesting them to review the progress of implementation of the Acts.

State-wise position of Number of Workers Registered with Welfare Boards under Building & Other Construction Workers Act, 1996  and  Cess Collected under Building & Other Construction Workers  Welfare Cess Act, 1996– as on 31.03.2010*:

           *Provisional

The Minister of State for Labour and Employment Shri Harish Rawat gave this information in reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha today.

YSK/PM