WB: Utilise Welfare Funds for the Benefit of Construction Workers: CWFI
Swati Sil
THE voices of construction workers resonated through the historic Rani Rashmoni Avenue, Kolkata as thousands gathered in a resolute demonstration on January 24, 2025, demanding the rightful utilisation of the Construction Workers’ Welfare Fund. This large-scale assembly was organised by the Construction Workers’ Federation of India (CWFI) West Bengal state committee, urging the state government to adopt a transparent and accountable approach in disbursing the funds intended for workers’ well-being.
The public rally witnessed a massive turnout of construction workers from diverse sectors, including masons, carpenters, electricians, plumbers, ironworkers, and daily wage labourers, all unified by a common cause. The construction workers, who toil tirelessly to build the city’s infrastructure, lamented that despite their ceaseless labour, they remain deprived of essential benefits guaranteed under the welfare scheme. The primary grievance voiced at the rally pertained to the gross mismanagement and underutilisation of the Construction Workers’ Welfare Fund, which is derived from a statutory cess imposed on construction projects. Over the years, substantial sums have accumulated in this fund, yet the intended beneficiaries – construction workers – continue to struggle for their legitimate entitlements.
The public rally was addressed by CITU and CWFI President K Hemalata, CITU West Bengal State General Secretary Anadi Sahu, CWFI National Secretary Arka Rajpandit, veteran CITU leader Dipak Dasgupta, CWFI leaders S M Sadi, Sukanta Konar, Sonali Das Sharma. The rally was presided over by CWFI West Bengal State President Debanjan Chakrabarty.
Addressing the rally K Hemalata pointed out that while the state collects thousands of crores from builders, contractors, and developers under this welfare scheme, only a minuscule portion reaches the workers. Bureaucratic red tape and policy inefficiencies are the primary culprits behind this failure. The TMC government must be held accountable for the funds collected in the name of workers. These funds belong to us, and we must ensure their rightful utilisation. It is unacceptable that despite contributing significantly to the economy, construction workers remain impoverished and deprived of basic facilities. Today most of the Welfare Boards are not functioning effectively to serve the construction workers. Cess is not properly collected in many states. The collected amount is not spent for providing benefits to the construction workers; instead, it is being spent on government’s advertisements. In West Bengal, it is being diverted to other purposes to serve the electoral prospects of ruling TMC government. The process of online registration of construction workers has led to the elimination of large number of construction workers, particularly women from getting registered as many of them do not have access to good internet connections. As a result they are deprived of their due benefits, like maternity benefit, children of construction workers are deprived of their scholarships.
Criticising the anti-worker policies of the Modi government, Hemalata said, in fact since 2014, the Modi led BJP government has been aggressively trying to curtail all the hard won rights and benefits of the workers including construction workers, in the name of labour law reforms. The Modi led BJP government has merged 29 labour laws into four labour codes. Contrary to the BJP government’s claims, these codes are, in fact, meant to curtail even the existing social security benefits available to the workers. They will worsen their working conditions. In addition they also attack the basic trade union rights of the workers like right to organisation and the right to collective action including going on strikes. This will further intensify the exploitation of the construction workers, particularly women construction workers and their miseries. The only way, to ensure that the hard won rights of the construction workers are protected, is to strengthen our unity, strengthen our organisation and unitedly fight against this injustice and attacks.
Addressing the rally, Anadi Sahu said that the Left Front government implemented the BOCW Act with an aim to empower the construction workers, but under the 14 years of TMC rule, all the hard-won rights have been snatched away. He called upon the workers to get prepared for the Brigade Parade Ground rally that will be held on April 20, 2025, called by the CITU, AIKS and AIAWU. He stressed upon the importance of intensive campaign to make the upcoming Brigade rally a truly historic one to achieve the legitimate demands of the wealth-producing classes.
Pointing out a recent RTI reply by the central government, Arka Rajpandit said that Welfare Boards for the building and other construction workers of various states have not used the cess of Rs 70,744.16 crore they collected from the employers for the welfare of workers. In West Bengal, the total accumulated cess of 19 years is Rs 4,800 crores, but only a meagre amount of Rs 110 crore has been spent for the benefits. Except for Kerala, all the state governments and UT administrations are not implementing the BOCW Act. If the centre implements the Code on Social Security, the cess collection process will be diluted as it has provisions for self-assessment by the employer of cess, and the code reduces the rate of cess and interest. Many state governments are siphoning off funds from the BOCW corpus into the state exchequer. For example, the TMC government in West Bengal has so far taken Rs 1,620 crores into the state exchequer, which is absolutely illegal.
Presiding over the rally, Debanjan Chakraborty criticised the stark contrast between the promises made by the government and the ground reality. Various welfare provisions such as pensions, health benefits, education assistance for workers’ children, and accident compensations remain largely inaccessible due to cumbersome bureaucratic procedures. Many workers, despite being eligible, have failed to receive even the most basic financial aid. The discontent was further amplified by accounts of workers who had applied for benefits but were met with endless delays, arbitrary rejections, and a general lack of responsiveness from the concerned authorities.
It remains to be seen whether the government will heed the workers’ demands or allow the crisis to escalate further. However, one thing is clear – construction workers are no longer willing to remain silent spectators to the systemic neglect they have endured for years.
The rally concluded with a clarion call for sustained movement until concrete steps are taken. With the echoes of their slogans still reverberating through the streets of Kolkata, the struggle for dignity and rightful entitlements continues.
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