(a)whether the Welfare Boards under the Construction Act have not been constituted in all the States and UTs;
(b)if so, the reasons therefor;
(c)the time by which these welfare boards are likely to be constituted;
(d)the steps taken by the Government to strengthen the provisions under the Act for its effective implementations?
MINISTER OF STATE (IC) FOR LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT (SHRI BANDARU DATTATREYA)
(a): No, Madam. Every State has constituted the Building and Other Construction Workers’ Welfare Board under the Building and Other Construction Workers (Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Service) Act, 1996.
(b) & (c): Does not arise in view of (a) above.
(d): The Central Government has been issuing instructions to the State governments and State Building and Other Construction Workers Welfare Boards for speedy and proper implementation of 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 from time to time at appropriate levels.
The Central Government has also issued directions under Section 60 of the Building and Other Construction Workers (Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Service) Act, 1996 asking, inter-alia, the States to mandatorily provide welfare schemes for the workers covering education assistance, pension for persons not able to work due to old age/ disability, medical insurance, assistance for purchase of tools, skill upgradation, maternity benefits and grant for repairs and construction of houses, death benefits, accident benefits, funeral assistance. The state Governments and the State Welfare Boards have also been directed to ensure registration of workers engaged by the private employers/builders and constitute dedicated teams to monitor obligations of the employers stipulated in the Act.