The Labour Ministry has introduced a draft framework for the social audit on the execution of the Building and Other Construction Workers (Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Service) Act, 1996 (BOCW). This audit is emphasized by the Supreme Court in a recent judgement. It stresses the need for accountability in registering efforts under the BOCW for its effectiveness. India’s construction sector is a massive employment source, ranking second largest in the country. The industry approximately hires five to seven crore workers, with less than half being registered.
Objectives of Social Audit
The primary purpose of the social audit introduced is to ensure that the construction worker welfare boards are actively registering the workers. Another objective is the eradication of non-workers who are illegally registered. Furthermore, this social audit aims to ensure that construction workers and their offspring receive the rightful benefits as stipulated under the BOCW Act, 1996 such as scholarship for children, pension, and maternity benefits.
About Building and Other Construction Worker Act, 1996
The BOCW Act was enacted in 1996 with an intention to regulate the conditions of service and employment of construction workers along with provisions for their safety, health, and welfare. Any construction activity involving more than ten workers is obligated to comply with the guidelines set by this Act.
State welfare boards were established under this Act to offer counsel and assistance to the workers, ensure their payment regularity and set fixed working hours. These boards also issue identification cards for workers, which they can use to avail different benefits.
A crucial mandate of this Act is that constructions projects valued over Rs 10 lakh must contribute 1% of the total amount to the ‘welfare cess’, supervised by the Labour Department. This fund is utilised for various labour welfare schemes like scholarships for labourers’ children, compensations for families in the event of a worker’s death or physical handicap, low-cost housing facilities, and more.
Social Audit: A Democratic Process
The social audit is an essential democratic tool that allows the community to demand information from different agencies systematically. This process plays a crucial role in promoting public accountability. The central concept behind a social audit is to verify whether the individual or community has received the benefits intended for them.
