Maharashtra to Register Builders and Contractors under Board of Construction Workers
The Maharashtra Labour Department will soon begin registering builders and contractors under the Board of Construction Workers (BOCW). This initiative, announced on February 12, 2025, aims to verify the authenticity of the mandatory 90-day work certificates that construction workers are required to hold to access various welfare benefits.
This move follows the successful launch of an online registration system for construction workers just a week ago. The online portal has already received over 5 lakh applications, showcasing a strong response from the workforce. With the state now focusing on registering builders and contractors, it hopes to strengthen the system by cross-checking the legitimacy of the certificates that are issued to workers on construction sites. One of the main reasons for this move is to ensure that workers receive the benefits they are entitled to under the BOCW. Workers who have completed 90 days of work on construction sites can claim benefits such as accidental insurance. By registering the builders and contractors, the government plans to create a robust framework that verifies the work certificates issued to these workers.
According to a senior officer from the state’s labour department, the initiative has been designed to make the entire process more transparent and accountable. “We plan to get developers and contractors registered and cross-verify the certificates issued by them. This will ensure that the workers’ credentials are legitimate, and they can access all the benefits they are entitled to under the BOCW,” the officer explained. In addition to registering builders and contractors, the state has expanded its registration system for construction workers to the taluka (tehsil) level, in response to directives from the central government. The BOCW has set up 366 ‘Taluka Suvidha Kendras’ across Maharashtra, which are designed to help workers complete their registrations at the local level, making the process more accessible.
These centres are equipped to process up to 150 applications per day, allowing workers to register and verify their credentials conveniently without having to travel long distances to district offices. The state’s goal is to register 40 lakh construction workers under this initiative, providing them with various welfare benefits, including health insurance and accident coverage. The online registration platform, known as the Integrated Welfare Board Computer System (IWBMS), handles the entire process from registration to benefit distribution, offering significant improvements over the previous system, where applications were processed only at district centres. This digital upgrade is expected to expedite the process and make it more efficient.
However, while the initiative has been welcomed, some workers’ representatives have raised concerns about the 90-day certificate issuance process. They argue that the system needs further streamlining to ensure the certificates are assessed properly and issued promptly. “There should be an online record of the certificates issued to the workers, which would help in maintaining transparency and ensure that they are not lost in paperwork,” said a representative from a workers’ union. For developers and contractors, the new system mandates that all workers on construction sites must be registered to qualify for the welfare schemes available. With 32 different schemes under the BOCW, workers can claim a range of benefits, especially in case of workplace accidents. This new initiative is expected to not only streamline the process of registration but also ensure that workers are better protected, and their entitlements are safeguarded. The move is seen as a positive step towards improving the working conditions and welfare of construction workers in Maharashtra.
