About
Introduction
Government of India enacted two legislations viz. The Building and Other Construction Workers (Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Service) Act, 1996 and the Building and other Construction workers Welfare Cess Act, 1996. The corresponding central Rules of the two Acts have been notified on 26.03.1998 and 19.11.1998 respectively.
These are progressive legislations enacted to provide a decent working environment to the construction workers in respect of their safety, security and health at the work place. There is also a provision for collection of Cess on the cost of construction project towards constituting a welfare fund designed to provide welfare measures to the construction workers and their families viz. group insurance, financial assistance of the school going children, medical assistance for the family, maternity assistance, Tools assistance, old age pension etc. The main aim of the Act is to provide certain welfare facilities to the construction workers of the country who are one of the most numerous and vulnerable segment of the unorganized labour.
The State Government has constituted the Nagaland Building and Other Construction Workers’ Welfare Board under Section 18 of the BOCW (RECS) Act, 1996, for registration of construction workers in the State and to provide social security to the registered workers and their families. All required notifications related to implementation of the Act are in place and the department is trying its best to enforce the provisions provided under the above Act. The office of the welfare board is established in the Directorate of Labour. The welfare board registers workers who are involved in building and other construction activities, through the Assistant Labour Commissioners (ALCs) of the respective districts, who are also notified as registering officers within their district jurisdiction.
Salient features of the Building and Other Construction Workers’ Welfare Scheme
The Building and Other Construction Workers are one of the most vulnerable segments of the unorganised labour in India and Nagaland cannot be isolated. Their work is of temporary nature, the relationship between employer and the employee is temporary, working hours are uncertain. Basic amenities and welfare facilities are nonexistent or inadequate where provided. Risk to life and limb is also inherent. Therefore, Government of Nagaland has constituted the Nagaland Building and Other Construction Workers’ Welfare Board to provide social security to this section of workers and their families by implementing different welfare schemes specially designed for the purpose.
Eligibility to become a beneficiary
- Collect registration and nomination form from the Registering Officer (Assistant Labour Commissioner) Office of the respective districts.
- In the relevant column of the application form, the registration number, name and proper address of the employer as registered with the department under Section 7 of the BOCW (RECS) Act, 1996, should be clearly written and the employer should certify in the relevant column. A photo copy of the certificate issued to the contractor should also be enclosed as proof that the applicant is actually working under him/her.
- In Form XXVIII of the Nomination Form, The Registering Worker should nominate 2 (two) members either brother or sister, spouse, children or parents as his nominee along with a photo copy of Birth certificate and Aadhar card of the nominee.
- ₹300 (i.e. ₹25 per month) to be contributed as premium. Every registered beneficiary should renew the premium every year between January to March.
- ALC Office, after being satisfied with the submitted documents, will enter the details of the beneficiary in the beneficiary register and issue a beneficiary Identity Card with a unique registration number.
- The ID card thus issued will be the only valid document for any correspondences in future relating to this scheme. Therefore, the beneficiary should take proper care from damage or lose of the ID card.
Different Acts and Rules.
- The Building and Other Construction Workers’ (Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Service) Act, 1996.
- The Nagaland Building and Other Construction Workers’ (Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Service) Rules, 2010.
- The Building and Other Construction Workers’ Welfare Cess Act, 1996.
- The Building and Other Construction Workers’ Welfare Cess Rules, 1998.