BOCW SCHEME

• 16 Aug 2023

Source: PIB

Why in News?

Recently, the Minister of Labour and Employment provided valuable insights into the Building and Other Construction Workers (Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Service) Act, 1996 during a written reply in the Rajya Sabha.

What is the Building and Other Construction Workers (Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Service) Act, 1996?

• About:
  • The Building and Other Construction Workers (Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Service) Act, 1996, commonly referred to as the BOCW Act, plays a significant role in safeguarding the rights and interests of workers in the construction sector.
• Major Provisions:
  • The constitution of State Welfare Boards to administer the welfare fund and to provide various benefits to the registered workers such as accident insurance, medical assistance, education, housing, pension, etc.
  • The fixing of hours of work, wages for overtime work, prohibition of employment of certain persons in certain building or other construction work, and the provision of drinking water, latrines, urinals, accommodation, creches, first-aid, canteens, etc.
  • The establishment of safety committees and safety officers at every establishment and the framing of rules for the safety and health of building workers.
  • It provides for the levy and collection of cess at 1-2% of the cost of construction, as the Central government may notify.
• Eligible Beneficiaries:
  • As per the provisions, any worker aged between eighteen and sixty years, engaged in building or construction activities for a minimum of ninety days in the preceding twelve months, is eligible for registration as a beneficiary with the State Welfare Boards.
• Implementation:
  • The implementation of welfare schemes for building and construction workers, ranging from life and disability cover to health, maternity support, transit housing, and skill development, is entrusted to the State/UT BOCW Welfare Boards under Section 22 of the Act.
    • These welfare measures strive to uplift the livelihoods and well-being of workers who contribute significantly to the construction sector.
• Recent Developments to Streamline Registration Process: Recognizing the need for simplification and accessibility, the government introduced various measures to ease the registration/enrollment process:
  • Unique Identcatioifin Number: The introduction of a Unique Identification Number for registered building and construction workers aims to streamline the identification process and enhance efficiency.
  • Local Competent Officers: The delegation or appointment of competent officers at the local, municipal, and panchayat levels contributes to a more decentralized and accessible registration process.
  • Self-Certification: The practice of self-certification empowers workers to provide accurate information without requiring physical presence, expediting the registration process.
  • Facilitation Centers and Camps: To enhance accessibility, the government established facilitation centers at prominent labor chowks and addas, along with holding regular camps, which provide a convenient means for workers to enroll and update their information.

What are the Other Government Schemes Related to Construction Workers?

• National Initiative for Promotion of Upskilling of Nirman workers (NIPUN)
• Model Welfare Scheme for Building and Other Construction Workers and Action Plan for Strengthening Implementation Machinery
• Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Maan-dhan (PM-SYM)