Principal Correspondent
KOHIMA, SEPTEMBER 10
PARLIAMENTARY Secretary for Labour & Employment, Dr. Longrineken today called upon the construction workers in the state to get registered with Nagaland Building & Other Construction Workers Welfare Board (NBOCW) in order to avail various facilities meant for them.
Addressing an Awareness Programme on Registration of Beneficiaries under Building & Other Construction Workers (BOCW) Welfare Cess Act, 1996 organised by Labour Department, Government of Nagaland at The Heritage here, Dr. Longrineken said such a scheme would benefit the labourers working in various construction works.
Pointing that a survey conducted by the Department reveals that Kohima, Mokokchung and Dimapur alone has 8589 labourers, he stressed on proper awareness creation amongst them through involvement of colony/ward and village chairman so that they can avail the benefits.
Acknowledging the Labour department for looking after the welfare of workers in the state, he stressed on the importance of registration with NBOCW Welfare Board, he said the main objectives of the board is to resolve any issues cropping up between the employer and employee and also to address the grievances voiced by the workers while discharging duties or discriminated on the ground of various factors.
Delivering the key-note address, Chairman NBOCW Welfare Board & Parliamentary Secretary for Veterinary & Animal Husbandry, Vikho-o Yhoshu lamented that all the construction works in the state are being carried out by outsiders or migrant workers.
He therefore said that despite the central government passing the Labour Act in 1996 and making it necessary for all the states to have rules and regulations in compliance with the Central Act, Nagaland it took a long time considering the problems associated with workers as most of the construction works are carried out by migrant workers.
Nonetheless, he said that it was only in 2011 that Nagaland Building & Other Construction Workers (NBOCW) was established comprising members from different departments like Finance, Works & Housing, prominent Contractors, representatives of workers etc.
Encouraging local youths to take up construction works, he said traditionally Nagas are not trained in RCC construction as mostly engaged in timber and thatch works. Nonetheless, he said this is a modern world of RCC and therefore Naga youths should also be trained in taking up RCC construction works.
“Young people should come forward in taking up construction works as this is going to be very important industry,” he said.
He asserted that skilled training would be imparted to all the registered workers and they would also be avail various benefits, including some kind of pension, health, accidental or natural deaths and also maternity benefit etc.
He said only 1735 beneficiaries have been registered under the scheme while 1685 are already benefiting from the scheme.
He said that the welfare activities are to be funded from the collection of cess from all the construction works at the rate of 1%.
During the technical session, Project Officer Directorate of Labour, T. Chubayanger highlighted the importance of the scheme and also on how can a construction worker become a beneficiary. Those workers (completed 18 years but not completed 60 years of age) who are engaged in building and other construction works – masons, plumbers, carpenters, electricians, painters etc are eligible to become a beneficiary under the scheme.
The registration forms can be collected from the Registering Officer (Assistant Labour Commissioner – ALC) office of the respective districts and submit the filled up forms there itself.
The ALC office after being satisfied with the submitted documents, will enter the details of the beneficiary in the beneficiary register and issue a beneficiary identity card with registration number.
The programme chaired by ALC Kohima Ekhahü Rosse commenced with invocation by Pastor of Ministers’ Hill Baptist Church Mego Chusi while special number was presented by Medo and Tanu while ALC Avile Vitso tendered the vote of thanks.
