The Deputy Chief Minister, Surinder Choudhary, today called for a comprehensive revamp of the J&K Building and Other Construction Workers Welfare Board (JKBOCWWB) to strengthen and expand welfare benefits for construction workers and their families across Jammu and Kashmir.
Chairing a high level review meeting held in this regard at the Civil Secretariat, Jammu, the Deputy Chief Minister emphasised the need to ensure seamless implementation of labour codes and welfare schemes so that maximum eligible beneficiaries are covered under the Board’s ambit. He stressed that the benefits of all the welfare initiatives must effectively reach the workers as well as their children, particularly in the areas of education and healthcare.
Highlighting the importance of the reform, he directed the officials to undertake structural and procedural improvements in functioning of the Board to enhance transparency, efficiency and accountability. He underlined simplifying application procedures, widening outreach mechanisms and ensuring that no eligible worker is left out from availing the benefits.
The Deputy Chief Minister reviewed the implementation status of the four Labour Codes; Code on Wages 2019, Industrial Relations Code 2020, Social Security Code 2020 and OSH & Working Conditions Code 2020. He stressed transparent and impactful enforcement of these Codes on the ground.
The Deputy Chief Minister underscored the need for massive IEC campaigns and capacity building initiatives to sensitise the workers about their rights and entitlements. He advocated the need for empowering the workers through direct benefit mechanisms and targeted delivery of schemes.
Focusing on the future of workers’ children, he instructed the department to promote digital learning initiatives and upskilling programmes to prepare them for competitive opportunities. He directed the officials to ensure maximum coverage of students and facilitate them with digital tools, including tablets and laptops, to support their education.
During the meeting, the Deputy Chief Minister also reviewed the constitution of J&K Advisory Board under Code on Wages, J&K Occupational Safety and Health Advisory Board, J&K Unorganised Social Security Board and J&K Buildings and Other Construction Workers Welfare Board.
He called for adopting a broader and more inclusive definition of “construction worker” so as to bring all vulnerable and unorganised sector labourers within the fold of welfare coverage.
Emphasizing coverage of maximum beneficiaries under various assistance programmes in J&K, the Deputy Chief Minister instructed the officers to ensure amicable resolution of workers’ issues and prompt service delivery through all the concerned offices. He said that the government is committed to socio-economic upliftment of the workers and other marginalised sections of the society while ensuring benefits of welfare schemes reach to the end- beneficiaries.
The meeting was attended by the Commissioner Secretary, Science and Technology; Secretary, Labour and Employment Department; CEO/Secretary, JKBOCWWB; Labour Commissioner; Special Secretary, Labour and Employment; Director Finance, Labour and Employment; Under Secretary Labour and other concerned officers.
