The construction workers who number more than 5 lakh in the city of Delhi are one of the most vulnerable sections of the informal workforce. More than fifty percent of them are migrants and lack any secure employment or social security benefits. The Building and other Construction Workers Act, 1996 was a major breakthrough in providing a legal framework for provision of social security for workers in this industry. The 1996 Act created a Welfare Board, a worker registration process and a Cess Fund which would free workers from the dependency on the goodwill of individual employers and link them directly to the Board for social security. Registration of Construction Workers with the Board acts as an identity, as a proof of their presence and contribution to Delhi’s infrastructural development. The various benefits offered by the Welfare Board include Life Insurance, Pension, Scholarships for Children, Loan facility, Maternity benefit, Accident Insurance etc.
SEWA Delhi since the past three years has been making consistent efforts to register as many construction workers as possible with the Delhi Building and Other Construction Workers’ Welfare Board (DBOCWWB) and create a strong union that can represent construction workers, demand for their rights and claim for benefits through the board. Our core activities include door-to-door mobilization, regular mohalla meetings with construction workers and registration camps to facilitate the registration of a large number of construction workers. Till date, SEWA Delhi has been successful in organising and facilitating the registration of over 1100 workers in seven areas of Delhi namely, Anand Vihar, Sunder Nagri, Raghubir Nagar, Rajiv Nagar, Gokulpuri, Punjabi Bagh and Timarpur.
Apart from this, SEWA Delhi has played a significant role in advocacy with the government to claim for the benefits allocated to the workers by the Welfare Board. We hold regular meetings with government officials and also organize dharnas to enable workers to collectively raise their voices to demand for their rights. SEWA has been an active member of CWG-CWC (Commonwealth Games - Citizen's Initiative for Workers and Children's Rights) and along with other coalition members works to ensure social security, safety, and equity for workers, women, and children in the context of the Commonwealth Games 2010.
