The Building and Other Construction Workers (Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Service) Act, 1996
The Building and Other Construction Workers (Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Service) Act, 1996
The Act regulates the employment and conditions of service of building and other construction workers and to provide for their safety, health and welfare measures and for other related matters.
The Building and Other Construction Workers (Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Service) Act, 1996 governs every establishment which employs or had employed on any day of the preceding twelve months, ten or more workers in any building or other construction work. The Act provides for the constitution of Central and State Advisory Committee to advise the appropriate Government on matters arising out of administration of the said Act. It also provides for constitution of Expert Committee to advise on matters relating to framing of rules by the appropriate Government.
There is the provision of registration of establishments employing construction workers, and appointment of registering officers, registration of building workers as beneficiaries under the Act and provision for their identity cards, etc.
The Act provides for the constitution of Welfare Boards by the State Governments and registration of beneficiaries under the Fund and provides for financing and augmenting resources of such Welfare Boards.
The Act has fixed the hours for normal working day, weekly paid rest day, wages for over time, provision of basic welfare amenities like drinking water, latrines and urinals, creches, first aid, canteens, etc., for the building workers. The law provides for temporary living accommodation to all building workers within or near the work site.
The Act makes adequate provisions for safety and health measures for construction workers including appointment of safety committees and safety officers and compulsory notification of accidents. The Act empowers the Central Government to frame model rules for safety measures headed by Director-General of Inspection at the Central Level and Inspector-General at the State Level. The Act provides for appointment of inspecting staff including Director-General of Inspection at the Central level and Inspector-General at the State level.
Under the Act there are special provisions regarding fixing responsibility of employers to ensure compliance with safety provisions and with regard to prevention of accidents, timely payment of wages etc. There is also provision for penalties for contravention, obstructions, violation and offence; taking cognizance by court of offence punishable under this Act and protection of action taken in good faith.
