Every day, innumerable people contribute to India’s growth and development, and one of those people who enables others to travel and work in designated spaces is the construction workers. It would be foolish to even try thinking about a world where they don’t exist. The construction workforce serves as a link that connects everyone else in the world with each other, and this link is not something that one can or should forget about.
The construction industry is the backbone of not only a country like India but the world. It is one of the most labour-intensive sectors, employing 71 million people according to last year’s report. But it is also one of the most underappreciated sectors, due to which the construction workers face a wide range of problems, such as unsafe work environment, lack of protective gear, minimal wages, and many other such problems.
To overcome such issues and protect the rights of the construction workers, the Government of India has created the Building and Other Construction Workers (Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Service) Act, 1996, also known as the BOCW Act. This act was curated and enacted to improve both the professional and personal lives of the construction workers and provide them with the quality treatment and respect they deserve.
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Overview
Below table summarises some significant points about the BOCW act that one should know about.
| Name of the act | BOCW Act |
|---|
| Full form | Building and Other Construction Workers (Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Service) Act |
| Launched in | 1966 |
| Objective | To protect the interests and rights of construction workers and ensure that they aren’t exploited in their workplaces |
| For | Construction Workers |
| Registration process: | Offline |
What Is The BOCW Act, 1996?
The BOCW Act was enacted in the year 1996 to protect the interests and rights of construction workers and ensure that they aren’t exploited in their workplaces. The act applies to establishments with 10 or more workers.
The act mandates the registration of construction workers under the welfare boards established by the state governments following the act. The welfare boards work by following the guidelines written in the act and ensure that the construction workers receive every service and benefit included in the act.
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Features Of the BOCW Act, 1996
The key features of the BOCW Act comprise several points, all of which are laid down below in detail:
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Workers Registration: The act compulsorily requires construction workers to register themselves with the welfare boards set up by the respective state governments to avail the benefits associated with the act, such as medical care, insurance, pension scheme, and others.
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Welfare Boards: The act is implemented through the welfare boards established by the state governments. The welfare boards collect funds from the construction workers’ employers to provide to the workers later.
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Working Hours and Wages: The act mentions the appropriate working hours and the set wages, along with the time of the payment, so that construction workers are paid fairly and not overworked.
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Addressing Issues: Labour inspectors are appointed to frequently check the worksites, interact with the construction workers, and solve their problems if there are any.
What Are The Benefits Of The BOCW Act, 1996?
The BOCW Act aids construction workers in numerous ways. Some of its major and popular benefits are as follows:
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Health Benefits: Registered workers are given access to medical care, hospitalisation, and even maternity benefits as and when required. The expenses are borne by the government through financial assistance to the workers.
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Insurance and Pension Schemes: The act provides workers with life insurance in case of unfortunate demise or disabilities, along with pension schemes after they have attained the age of 60.
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Education: The welfare boards take the responsibility of educating the workers’ children while they are completing their shifts.
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Housing: Through the act, the workers can also avail of temporary housing and shelter home services near construction sites. If they want to purchase a house, financial assistance is also given for the same.
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Facility of loans and advances: Workers can also apply for loans for legitimate and specific purposes such as housing, education, medical aid, and others. Loans are provided at low interest rates without the need to deposit any collateral.
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Eligibility Criteria For Registration Under The BOCW Act
The eligibility criteria for registering under the BOCW Act are mandatory to be fulfilled by an applicant. The criteria consist of the following points:
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Applicants must be between 18-60 years of age.
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The worker must’ve worked for a minimum period of 90 days in the previous year (for ex, if you’re applying for registration in 2025, you should’ve worked as a labourer for at least 90 days in 2024).
Application Process For Registration Under The BOCW Act
The application process for completing the registration is mentioned below in a step-by-step format for one’s reference:
Step 1: Please visit the nearest Welfare Board or the labour department.
Step 2: Request a BOCW form (it can be downloaded as well from the respective state government’s welfare board website).
Step 3: Fill in the details such as your personal information, employment details, and number of dependents.
Step 4: Submit the form along with the above-mentioned documents.
Step 5: Please pay the registration fee, which differs as per state but usually is around 25 to 50 Rupees.
Step 6: After the submission of your application, the welfare boards will verify the details and, after confirming, will issue a registration card in the applicant’s name through which they can draw the benefits covered by the BOCW Act.
What Are The Documents Required For Registration Under The BOCW Act?
There are some documents that applicants are mandated to attach to complete their registrations. The list of documents is:
Conclusion
The Building and Other Construction Workers (Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Service) Act, 1996, is a significant part of our Indian constitution as it provides an umbrella of safety to the construction workers of India who are often not paid enough attention. It is time to realise that they are the ones who make everything possible for the rest of us.
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