Labour Ministry Launches New Portal and Reviews State Preparedness for Labour Codes.
New Delhi:
The Ministry of Labour & Employment today launched the Building and other Construction Workers (BoCW) Management Information System (MIS) portal, designed to centralize data management for the welfare of building and construction workers. The launch was announced during the 15th meeting of the BoCW Monitoring Committee, chaired by the Secretary of the Ministry of Labour & Employment, Sumita Dawra.
The new MIS portal will serve as a centralized platform for compiling and analyzing data from BoCW Welfare Boards across states and union territories. It aims to facilitate better decision-making and policy formulation regarding the welfare of BoCW workers. States and UTs have been instructed to register and update their data on the portal, including information on fund utilization and worker registration under various welfare schemes.
As of June 30, 2024, approximately 5.7 crore workers are registered with BoCW Welfare Boards, with a total cess collection of about Rs. 1.15 lakh crores. Out of this, over Rs. 66,000 crores have been allocated to welfare schemes for workers. The Ministry is working to extend central government scheme benefits to these workers through the cess fund. Notable achievements include Ayushman Cards for 1.3 crore workers under the Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY), insurance coverage for over 85,000 workers under the Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana (PM-JJBY), and disability protection for 1.24 lakh workers under the Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana (PM-SBY).
The meeting also reviewed the progress of integrating BoCW workers’ data with the e-Shram portal to provide a unified solution for unorganized sector workers. States like Uttar Pradesh, Assam, and Madhya Pradesh have used cess funds to construct schools for the children of BoCW workers, and other states were encouraged to pursue similar initiatives.
Additionally, the Ministry assessed the preparedness of states and UTs in finalizing draft rules under the four new Labour Codes. States were urged to align their rules with central guidelines to ensure consistency nationwide. The Ministry plans to conduct six regional meetings over the next two months to further collaborate on labour reforms and address state-specific concerns.
