(a) the number of construction workers in the country at present;
(b) whether deaths at construction sites are increasing in the country;
(c) if so, the details thereof during the last three years and the current year;
(d) the details of guidelines issued to private and public construction majors on the
safety and security of construction labourers at construction sites; and
(e) the various social security schemes implemented for construction labourers in the country?
MINISTER OF STATE FOR LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT (SHRI KODIKUNNIL SURESH)
(a): As per estimates of National Sample Survey (2009-10), there are about 4.46 crore
building and other construction workers in the country.
(b) & (c): A statement is annexed.
(d): The Government has enacted the Building and Other Construction Workers (Regulation
of Employment and Conditions of Service) 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. The Act has to be implemented by State and Central Government depending
upon appropriate Government as per Section 2(a) of the Act. The Central Government has framed
Building and Other Construction Workers (Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Service)
Central Rules 1998 which contains provisions and specifications for adequate safety and health
of workers employed in construction industry.
(e): Under the Building and Other Construction Workers (Regulation of Employment and Conditions
of Service) Act, 1996, every State Government has to constitute a State Building and Other
Construction Workers Welfare Board. The functions of the Board include providing welfare and
social security measures such as immediate assistance to a beneficiary in case of accident,
payment of pension to the beneficiaries who have completed the age of 60 years, loan and
advances for construction of a house, paying amount in connection with premia for Group
Insurance Scheme etc.
The Government has also enacted the Unorganized Workers’ Social Security Act, 2008 for the
social security and welfare of unorganized workers which includes building and other
construction workers. In addition to this, the coverage of RSBY has been extended to them.
STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (b) AND (c) OF LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 590 TO
BE ANSWERED ON 09.12.2013 RAISED BY PROF. Sk. SAIDUL HAQUE REGARDING CONSTRUCTION WORKERS.
(b) & (c): The provisions of safety and health aspect of the workers engaged in building and
other construction work are enforced by the Central and State Governments in their respective
spheres. The detail of fatal accidents of workers during the last three years on the
construction sites of the establishments falling under Central sphere is as under:
Sl. No. Name of the Number of fatal Number of fatal Number of fatal States/UTs. Accidents in 2010 Accidents in 2011 Accidents in 2012 1. Andhra Pradesh 01 2. Assam 01 01 01 3. Bihar 02 01 4. Gujarat 10 10 03 5. Haryana, Punjab, J&K and Himachal 08 02 00 Pradesh 6. Jharkhand 7 Karnataka 01 10 8. Kerala 05 01 02 9. Madhya Pradesh 07 04 10. Orissa 11. Maharashtra 03 01 05 12. Rajasthan 02 04 13. Tamil Nadu 04 14. Uttar Pradesh 02 02 01 15. West Bengal 01 03 16. Delhi 07 Total 45 36 24Details of the State sphere are not maintained at the Central level.