A committee constituted by the Union Labour Ministry has suggested ways for portability of benefits for the building and other construction (BOC) workers, besides, insurance and maternity benefits. However, it could not evolve a consensus on the monthly pension.

The committee, under the Chairmanship of Director General (Labour Welfare), has submitted its recommendations, which were uploaded on the website on Tuesday. The committee deliberated on the directions the Supreme Court issued on March 19 and the draft outline of the Model Welfare Scheme for BOC workers. “Every State should allot a Unique Identification Number to the registered BOC workers, and upload complete details on the State web portal and the National BOCW Portal, in read only mode, of the registered workers and their families, along with the status of registration and renewal, so that it can be accessed by other States,” the committee said, adding that this would help in portability of welfare benefits. It has suggested that the States submit compliance reports by December 31.

As per the National Sample Survey (2011-12) estimates, there are about 5.02 crore building and other construction workers in the country. However, the States/Union Territories have registered only 2.86 crore workers through the State Building and Other Construction Workers’ Welfare Board up to December 31, 2107.

Insurance cover

After deliberating on the Model Welfare Scheme for BOC Workers, the committee recommended that the State Welfare Board may cover BOC workers under the Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana (PMJJBY) and the Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana (PMSBY), by making payment of 50 per cent of the total contribution of premium amounting to ₹171 per worker per year, out of the BOC welfare fund, as the remaining 50 per cent will be borne by the Central Government under the converged PMJJBY/PMSBY Schemes.

These schemes provide coverage of ₹2 lakh in case of natural death and ₹4 lakh in case of accidental death, besides disabilities. “Alternately, the State welfare board may provide minimum coverage of ₹4 lakh, in case of accidental death, and ₹2 lakh in the event of natural death to the dependent(s) of the deceased beneficiary, besides disability benefits,” it said.

The committee also recommended reimbursement of expenses up to a prescribed limit in case of major diseases, and maternity leave ranging from 90 days to 26 weeks for up to two deliveries to registered women workers and ₹6,000 per delivery for up to two deliveries to the wife of the registered male workers.

Further, in light of the recent launch of the National Health Protection Scheme, the committee felt that there was a need for a deeper examination of convergence of BOCW health schemes with NHPS. The committee, therefore, decided to constitute a subcommittee that would examine the provisioning of health and maternity benefits to building and other construction workers.

Housing facilities

The committee felt that the BOC workers are predominantly migratory who move from one place to other in search of work. During the period of transit or until they find work, they face great hardship due to lack of basic facilities such as transit shelters, toilets etc, in and around the area common for their gathering in a city or metro.

“In order to mitigate the hardship that a BOC worker faces, the States are advised to take proactive steps to facilitate transit accommodation/labour shed cum night shelter, mobile toilets and mobile crèches to BOC workers in the areas of their concentration prior to their finding work,” it said.

 

Related Topics
comment COMMENT NOW