About BOCW

BOCW is the acronym for the Building and Other Construction Workers (Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Service) Act, 1996, an Indian social welfare legislation that regulates the employment and working conditions of construction workers. The Act aims to protect workers in the construction sector by providing for their safety, health, and social security benefits, and requires them to be registered with a welfare fund to access these benefits

Registration and eligibility

Eligibility:

A worker aged 18–60 years who has worked for at least 90 days in the previous 12 months can register as a beneficiary.

Application:

Registration is required to join the BOCW Welfare Fund and avail benefits, which can be done online through the Rajasthan.gov.in portal.

Employer responsibilities:

Record maintenance:

Employers must maintain registers of building workers and contributions and provide these records to the authorized officer upon request.

Safety and health:

Employers are responsible for ensuring a safe working environment by:

• Keeping passageways and platforms free of debris and obstructions.
• Providing adequate safety equipment, such as safety nets and equipment for working at height.
• Ensuring lifting appliances are safe, properly maintained, and regularly inspected.

Welfare facilities:

Employers must provide welfare measures, including drinking water, latrines, urinals, accommodation, and crèches as required by the rules.

Hours of work:

The rules set the hours for a normal working day and provide for wages for overtime work.

Benefits and assistance

• Welfare fund: Registered workers are beneficiaries of the BOCW Welfare Fund.
• Types of benefits: The fund provides various social security benefits, such as medical assistance, maternity benefits, accident cover, pension, and educational assistance for children.
• Assistance claims: In case of death or injury, nominees or the injured worker can apply for assistance within a specified time limit (e.g., one year for death, six months for injury).

Other rules

Inspection:

Inspectors will visit establishments for physical inspections, prepare a report, and get a signature from the management to confirm the inspection took place.

Dispute resolution:

Any disputes will be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts in Rajasthan.