Labour Law Challenges In The Construction Industry: Safety, Welfare, And Wages
- IJLLR Journal
- Aug 15
- 2 min read
V.K Negi, Monika Negi & Prachi Sharma
ABSTRACT
The construction industry in India employs around 50 million people, making it one of the country's largest employers. But most of these individuals labor in the informal economy, where they face long-term issues including poor working conditions, job insecurity, and a lack of access to aid programs. Despite extensive legislation such as the Building and Other Construction Workers (Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Service) Act, 1996, the Minimum Wages Act, 1948, and the Contract Labour (Regulation and Abolition) Act, 1970, there is still a significant gap between the letter of the law and its practical implementation. The industry is still beset by wage violations, hazardous working conditions, and the underutilization of welfare funds intended for employee benefits. The paper critically analyses the difficulties construction workers encounter with regard to welfare benefits, fair pay, and workplace safety. The statutory framework's shortcomings are examined, including low state welfare board registration rates, a dearth of enforcement tools, and the misappropriation of cess money. Although civil society organizations' and the courts' efforts have raised awareness, they are not enough to implement systemic change. The importance of unionization and strict safety regulations is highlighted as the study contrasts India's construction labor practices with international norms, particularly those observed in nations like Canada. This research concludes by suggesting policy changes such as mandatory safety training, digitizing worker registration, tightening inspection procedures, and making effective use of welfare cess through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) systems. Providing construction workers with respectable working conditions is not just a legal need; it is also a humanitarian and constitutional necessity. The lives of millions of people in the industry can be greatly improved by bolstering the enforcement of current rules and encouraging an accountable culture.
Keywords: Construction labour, safety, wages, welfare, BOCW Act, labour reforms, unorganized workers
