Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh, RK Mathur chaired the first meeting of the Ladakh Building and Other Construction Workers’ Welfare Board (LB&OCWWB) on January 25.

Chairman, LAHDC Kargil, Feroz Ahmed Khan joined virtually, while Chairman, LAHDC Leh, Advocate Tashi Gyalson; Advisor Umang Narula; Welfare Commissioner, Jammu, Omkar Sharma; Commissioner/Secretary, PWD, Ajeet Kumar Sahu; Secretary, Labour, Mehboob Ali Khan; Chief Engineer Himank, Brigadier GS Karki; Deputy Labour Commissioner, Ladakh, Shakeel Ahmed; Chief Engineer Tashi Chombel; Chief Engineer, CPWD, Pradeep Gupta; officials from the Labour Department, Leh & Kargil; representatives from Contractor/Labour Association from Leh and Kargil were present in the meeting.

LG stressed the need to assure that even the non-Border Roads Organisation (BRO) contractors must follow the statutory liability while engaging labourers, make expenditures for the welfare of the labourers and explore technological interventions such as temporary mobile sheds for the labourers. He instructed that an order on Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) with conditions to be fulfilled by the registered labour agencies while engaging labourers may be issued. He highlighted the need for monitoring the performances of the labour agencies to check if they are providing adequate lodging facilities, etc. to the labourers.  

LG Mathur instructed that Panchayati Raj Institutions bodies may be involved in the engagement of local labourers. He stressed the need to keep a check on middlemen involved in engaging migrant labourers from outside Ladakh and ensure that only registered labour agencies are allowed to engage migrant labourers. He emphasised the need to make the process of payment of wages to the labourers transparent.

He  emphasised the need to provide protection to labourers and ensure that the labour contractors do not earn disproportionately from the labourers. He instructed that regular certificate courses may be conducted for local labourers during the winter under the labour welfare scheme.

LG Mathur instructed that the registered local labourers may be covered under the labour pension scheme. He also instructed that a leading bank may be considered for opening the bank account for the transaction of the business of the board based on parameters set by the board. He further instructed that the board may spend the full cess fund every year for the welfare of the labourers.

Administrative and Welfare Expenditure for Financial Year 2022-23 and 2023-24 was approved.

L-G instructedthat the cess collection efficiency should be monitored continuously and the migrant labour welfare schemes for the labourers should be prepared and approved. He further instructed that compensation/ex-gratia may be equal for local and non-local labourers in case of the death of the labourer. LG Mathur also instructed that the Labour Department may conduct a pilot for the e-delivery of services with the existing V-Sat-connected vehicles.

The stakeholders/representatives of the contractor/labour association raised issues related to the need for the smoothening of the registration of the labourers, resolving pending liability cases, etc.

Earlier, Deputy Labour Commissioner, Shakeel Ahmed informed the members about the agenda of the meeting, viz. designation of Deputy Labour Commissioner, Ladakh as Secretary of LB&OCWWB and CEO of the Board; finalisation of the draft guidelines of the LB&OCWWB; constitution of the Building and Other Construction Workers’ Welfare Fund and opening of Bank account for the transaction of business of the board; board approval for the liabilities for FY 2021-22; approval for Administrative and Welfare Expenditure for FY 2022-23 & 2023-24; approval for proposed migrant labour welfare scheme; procurement of all-terrain vehicle with mobile internet facility for inspection of e-delivery of services; transfer of pending fund from JKBOCWWB to UT Ladakh; approval for onboarding all the active registered workers for disbursement of various benefits for session 2022-23, etc.