Bill for changes in laws on construction workers introduced

A Bill seeking to amend two Acts dealing with building and construction workers to help deliver better safety, health and welfare measures to them was introduced in the Rajya Sabha today.
The Building and Other Construction Workers Related Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2013, also aims to streamline the process of their registration under various laws and helps empower the state governments to file complaints for any contravention of the provisions.
The Bill was introduced by Minister of State for Labour and Employment Kodikunnil Suresh in the absence of Labour Minister Mallikarjun Kharge, who was granted leave by the House. The Bill was listed in the name of Kharge in the list of business for the day.

It seeks to amend the Building and Other Construction Workers (REgulation of Employment and Conditions of Service) Act, 1996 and the Building and Other Construction Workers' Welfare Cess Ac, 1996.
The Bill seeks to help state welfare boards consolidate their finances and incur expenditures on administrative and other purposes for the smooth functioning of the boards.
It also seeks to prescribe a time limit of 30 days for cess-collecting authorities to deposit cess to the State Building and Other Construction Workers Welfare Board.
The amended Bill also seeks to empower the central government to specify the maximum cost of construction in place of the present limit of Rs 10 lakh. At present, workers can derive benefits in establishment where the cost of construction is more than Rs 10 lakh.

The decision of the government for bringing the amended Bill to make amendments in the Acts follows the recommendation of a task force examining the provisions of the Building and Other Construction Workers Act. A Tripartite Central Advisory Committee under the Act had accepted the recommendations.