• A two-day workshop-cum-seminar organized by the Labor Resources Department of the Government of Bihar to protect the welfare and rights of the workers engaged in building and other construction works started on Tuesday. The purpose of this workshop is to implement government schemes and functions as rules and rapidly, so that workers can get full benefit of their rights and welfare schemes.
  • This workshop is being organized at Dasharatha Manjhi Labor Planning and Studies Institute, Patna under the aegis of Bihar Building and Other Construction Workers Welfare Board. All the Deputy Labor Commissioners, Assistant Labor Commissioners of the state, and three-three labor enforcement officers nominated from each division are participating.
  • Many important topics are being discussed and trained in this session. Mainly the focus has been focused on the determination and collection of cesses under the building and other construction workers Welfare Cess Act, 1996. Also, new four codes of labor laws –
  • Code on Veg (2019)
  • Code on Social Security (2020)
  • Code on Industrial Relations (2020)
  • Code on Occupational Safety, Health and Working Condition (2020) –
    But detailed guidance was given.
  • Apart from this, intensive information was also given on the safety, health, work status, and legal safety of the workers working at construction sites. Omkar Sharma, retired Chief Labor Commissioner (Central Government), Ram Babu, Superintending Engineer, Building Construction Department, and Ms. Vaishali Lahiri, National Project Coordinator (International Labor Organization) apprised their experience and expertise.
  • It is worth noting that earlier also similar workshops were organized in April-May 2024, which are aimed at continuously trained and updated to the officials of the Labor Department. Continuing this series, this workshop is also part of the same approach.
  • The board has a clear view that through regular workshops and training programs, officers should be made more sensitive and active towards workers’ needs, rights and welfare schemes. This will not only increase administrative efficiency, but will also increase the standard of living of construction workers.