Lok Sabha Debates
Regarding Nationwide Strike By Construction Workers. on 8 December, 2009
> Title: Regarding nationwide strike by construction workers.
SHRI BASU DEB ACHARIA (BANKURA): Sir, today the construction workers of our country have gone on strike; there are lakhs of construction workers – largest number of workers – are engaged in construction sector. The Government of India passed a legislation in the year 1996.
Sir, today the construction workers of our country have gone on strike; there are lakhs of construction workers – largest number of workers – are engaged in construction sector. The Government of India passed a legislation in the year 1996. This Act was called the Building and Other Construction Workers regulation and Conditions of Service Act 1996 but so far a larger number of States have not implemented this Act. Even after 13 years of enactment of this legislation, only six or seven States have implemented it so far. Now their demand is that the Government of India should withdraw the order to allow 100 per cent FDI in housing sector to protect the Indian construction companies and the Government of India should allocate more funds in its annual budget for infrastructural development work to ensure sustained development and continuous employment of construction workers. The Government of India must declare reduction of prices of construction materials. It should take steps to reduce the prices of construction material like steal, cement, bricks, stones, chips, etc. The Inter-State Migration of Workmen Regulation of Employment and Condition of Service Act, 1979 to protect lacks of inter-State migrant workers has not been fully implemented in many States. As a result of this, the exploitation of migrant workers takes place in many States. About 3846 migrant workers were arrested while working in different countries. Their demand is that the Government of India should try to get them released.
The Social Security Act was passed by this House last year. At the time of consideration of the Bill, the Labour Minister assured this House that the Government would consider amending certain provisions of the Social Security Act so that a larger number of workers who are excluded from the social security, those workers could also be included. Therefore, the Government should bring an amending legislation to amend the Social Security Act which was passed by Parliament.