Construction workers: Rs 38,000 crore cess funds for welfare unused

Nearly Rs 40,000 crore lying unutilised with Construction workers welfare boards across the country

Nearly half the Rs 87,478 crore collected so far as the building and other construction (BOC) workers welfare cess by states and Union Territories remain unutilised, even as such labourers complain of woeful working conditions and denial of welfare measures, such as health, pension, insurance, and accident cover.

Until November last year, only Rs 49,269 crore (56 per cent) was spent on workers’ welfare, while Rs 38,209 crore (44 per cent) remained unutilised, Rameshwar Teli, minister of state, labour and employment, told Parliament last month.

He also informed Parliament that around 50.6 million BOC workers were registered with the Building