Question : Welfare of Construction Workers

(a)whether any scheme/programme is being implemented by the Government for welfare and development of construction workers in the country and if so, the details thereof;
(b)whether some States have reportedly resorted to diversion of funds
meant for the welfare of construction workers; if so, the details thereof along with the corrective steps taken/proposed to be taken by the Government in this regard;
(c)the total amount/funds collected by the Government under the Worker''s Welfare Cess in the country and the amount utilized for the welfare of construction labourers therefrom during each of the last three years and the current year, State/UT-wise; and
(d)the other steps taken/proposed to be taken by the Government to ensure better and proper utilisation of such fund as well as for overall welfare and development of construction workers in the country?

MINISTER OF STATE (IC) FOR LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
(SHRI BANDARU DATTATREYA)

(a): As per Section 18 of the Building and Other Construction Workers (RECS) Act, 1996, the State Governments/ UTs Administration have constituted State Building and Other Construction Workers Welfare Board for welfare of construction workers.

Under Section 22 of the Act, functions of the State Building and Other Construction Workers Welfare Boards are as under:
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(a) provide immediate assistance to a beneficiary in case of accident;
(b) make payment of pension to the beneficiaries who have completed the age of sixty years;
(c) sanction loans and advances to a beneficiary for construction of a houses not exceeding such amount and on such terms and conditions as may be prescribed;
(d) pay such amount in connection with premia for Group Insurance Scheme of the beneficiaries as it may deem fit;
(e) give such financial assistance for the education of children of the beneficiaries as may be prescribed;
(f) meet such medical expenses for treatment of major ailments of a beneficiary or, such dependent, as may be prescribed;
(g) make payment of maternity benefit to the female beneficiaries; and
(h) make provisions and improvement of such other welfare measures and facilities as may be prescribed.
The State Governments/UT Administrations have formulated their own schemes in terms of Section 22 of the Act.

(b): Levy and collection of cess on the cost of construction incurred by employers under the Building and Other Construction Workers’ Welfare Cess Act, 1996, is provided with a view to augmenting the resources of the Building and Other Construction Workers’ Welfare Boards. Cess funds are utilized by the State Building and Other Construction Workers’ Welfare Boards for the welfare of construction workers. Central Government has issued direction under Section 60 of the Building and Other Construction Workers (RECS) Act, 1996 to ensure that the cess is exclusively utilized for the welfare of construction workers.

(c): State/UT-wise, amount of cess collected under the Building and Other Construction Workers’ Welfare Cess Act, 1996 and its utilization under the Building and Other Construction Workers (RECS) Act, 1996 for welfare of construction workers, so far, is annexed.

(d): Central Government has been issuing directions under Section 60 of the Building and Other Construction Workers (Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Service) Act, 1996, to all the State Governments and UT Administrations from time to time for proper implementation of the Act.

The Central Government has also constituted a Committee under the Chairmanship of Secretary (Labour and Employment) to monitor the implementation of directions issued under Section 60 of the Act, specifically with reference to utilization of Cess fund for Welfare Schemes enumerated under Section 22 of the Act, by State Building and Other Construction Workers’ Welfare Boards.
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