NOT TO BE PUBLISHED/BROADCAST BEFORE  23rd May, 2009

             The welfare of working class has been the priority areas of the present Government. This was indicated by the Government soon after assuming power by enhancing the quantum of daily wages substantially. The recent decision to constitute ‘Workers Welfare Board’ is another major cornerstone which reflects the deep commitment and concern of the State Government towards the welfare of the working class.

          The number of the workmen and the labourers both in the public and private sectors has registered an upward trend vis-à-vis the expansion and growth of industrialization, apart from setting up of numerous hydel power projects in the State. To ensure adequate welfare of the labourers working in unorganized sectors in the State, the Workers Welfare Board would emerge as a safety cover to the labourers engaged in different construction activities.

        Worth mentioning here is, that the State is heading towards becoming an ‘Industrial Hub’ and in present circumstances, it becomes essential to cater to the welfare needs of the labourers engaged in  construction activities.

The Department of Labour and Employment under ‘Building and Other Construction Workers Welfare (Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Service) Act’, 1996 has framed Employment and Service Rules in December 2008 for the well-being of the labourers employed in various projects under construction in the State.

         It has been made mandatory for the employers to get their establishments and number of ‘Building Workers’ employed, to get registered with Labour and Employment department under the provisions of the Act. Even the migratory labourers working across the State would be covered under these rules. Every establishment employing fifty or more building workers shall prepare a written statement of policy in respect of safety and health of the employees and submit the same for approval to the Chief Inspector, Inspector of building and construction or any other officer as designated by the State Government.  

       Though the scheme has been implemented in neighbouring State of Haryana and elsewhere in few States of the Country, Himachal Pradesh is completely devoted and concerned to execute it in right perspective.

           However, the welfare of the labourers would be met with the cess on those constructing houses, buildings or projects incurring expenditure of more than rupees 10 lakh.

                   To generate income for the Board, set up for the welfare of the unorganized labour, the Government has proposed to levy a cess of one per cent of the total cost of developmental works being carried out by the public and private builders including departments, as per the policy laid down by the Centre.

                  Interestingly, the Government intends to collect around 45 crore by means of cess in the year 2009-10 out of which, there is a proviso of spending around 41 crore on the welfare measures for the labour class. As per the initial survey, there are roughly 29, 92,461 manual workers in the State and nearly 50 thousand labourers both from HP and other States are engaged in Hydel generation sector.

                  To derive the benefits of the Welfare Board, all labourers including carpenters, masons and casual labourers between 18 to 60 years of age can get themselves registered with the board.

                   Amongst numerous welfare schemes thought upon to be extended to the labourers in current financial year, includes pension to nearly 30 thousand workmen after three years at the rate of rupees 500, thereby incurring 18 crore as such. The Board further intends to provide medical allowance, initially to 5000 workmen with an outlay of fifty lakh. Similarly, an amount of rupees 2 crore fifty lakh has been premeditated, as ex-gratia grant in case of paralysis, tuberculosis, accident etc. to the registered labourers. The manual workers can also get a House loan to the tune of 50 thousand.  Likewise, the Board has been considering for providing financial aid in case of purchasing work appliances, on the education of the children of the registered labourers and for meting out  expenses on funeral rites as per the guidelines contained in the rules.

                                                         

                                                          Issued by:

Director,

 Information and Public Relations,

HP Shimla-2