The Union Minister for Labour Mallikarjun Kharge, expressed concern over ineffective implementation of laws for the betterment of workers in the construction sector.
While addressing a national workshop on welfare of construction workers, the Union Minister drew the attention of State Governments and State building and other construction boards with regard to low registration of construction workers, poor collection of cess and poor utilisation.
He felt that the Centre’s effort to work with States is aimed at providing fresh impetus to speedy and meaningful implementation of various enactments and welfare measures of construction workers.
The Union Minister said that the State Governments and welfare boards are lagging behind in implementing the acts.
As of now only 88.10 lakh construction workers have been registered against the total strength of 4.46 crore workers.
The total collection of cess with the welfare boards amounts to Rs 7057 crore where as only Rs 1000 crore has been spent.
The Union Minister said that while a few States have made considerable progress, majority of them are yet to start.
He appreciated the efforts of Governments of Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Madhya Pradesh that have made remarkable progress in the activities of registration of workers, collection of cess and its utilisation.
During the last five years while a considerable progress has been made, the States need to take up the implementation of acts more seriously, he suggested.
Labour engaged in construction activity is basically unskilled, migrant, socially backward and uneducated with low bargaining power.
Their work is of temporary nature and involves inherent risks.
Therefore, such workers need support.
While provisions of various labour laws are applicable to these building and other construction workers, a need was felt for a comprehensive legislation for this category of workers.