Maharashtra government makes registration of construction workers mandatory

In a move to facilitate better living conditions to the labour class, the Maharashtra government has made it mandatory for construction workers to register themselves with gram panchayats

In a move to facilitate better living conditions to the labour class, the Maharashtra government has made it mandatory for construction workers to register themselves with gram panchayats.

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The workers will have to submit their domicile, identity proof to gram panchayat and have to work for 90 days a year. Similarly, the rural development department has asked every gram panchayat to take up a drive till December 31 this year to register 'naka kamgars' (casual workers) in their areas and submit a report to the rural development ministry by January 5, 2016.

A Government Resolution (GR) of November 16 said that as per Maharashtra Building and Other Construction Workers (Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Service) Rules, CEOs of Zilla Parishads have been directed to inform Gram Panchayats in their jurisdiction to get construction workers registered.

There are approximately three lakh construction workers and the registration is done by the construction workers welfare board, the GR said.

However, the workers in allied areas fall in the unorganised sector as they have to work for more than one employer. The naka kamgars (casual workers) are also not registered due to which the number of labourers cannot be ascertained to provide them better living standards.

"Need of the hour is to provide insurance cover, medical assistance and facilities for their childrens' education. "The exact number of labourers needs to be ascertained. Hence, the industries department has been asked to register them at the gram panchayat level," the GR said.

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