Govt apathy towards construction workers puts Shakespearean tragedy to shame: SC

Govt apathy towards construction workers puts Shakespearean tragedy to shame: SC

Context

SC’s judgment on a public interest plea by the National Campaign Committee for Central Legislation on Construction Labour (NCC-CL) seeking the enforcement of the Building and Other Construction Workers (Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Service) Act, 1996 and the Building and Other Construction Workers Welfare Cess Act, 1996

How many building and construction workers are there in India?

Government estimate shows there are over 4.5 crore building and construction workers in the country. As of now, 2.8 crore have been registered under the 1996 laws for welfare

Observations made in the judgement

• A total of ₹37,400 crore was collected for the benefit of construction workers over 22 years since 1996. Only ₹9,500 crore was utilised for their benefit.₹28,000 crore meant for the welfare of construction workers lie stagnant with state governments
• State apathy in a situation such as this virtually amounts to exploitation of the construction workers, and if the state turns exploitative, there is little hope for vulnerable sections of society

Directions issued

Issuing series of specific and general directions to Union Labour and Employment Ministry and the States and UTS, the court noted the directions passed by it from time to time have been “flouted with impunity” and similarly multiple directions issued by the Centre were “disregarded” by the states and UT administrations