Shillong July 26: Despite publicity and campaigns on benefits for construction workers, but only few of them have come forward to register with the Meghalaya Building and Other Construction Workers’ Welfare Board (MB&OCWB) of the State Labour Department.

According to statistics, only 25,597 construction workers involved in various constructions have registered themselves with the Board till May 2018.

The construction labourers are entitled to different benefitis under “The Building and Other Construction Workers (Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Service) Act, 1996 and “The Building and Other Construction Workers’ (Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Service) (Amendment) Rules, 2011”

Under the Rules, the Meghalaya Building and Other Construction Workers’ Welfare Board (MB&OCWB) was created by the State Labour Department to look after the welfare of construction labourers who will get many benefits under the welfare fund of the department.

Officers of the department said that many construction labourers were reluctant to register themselves with the Board by citing flimsy reasons, despite knowing that they would get lot of benefits being a registered beneficiary.

The registration fee is Rs 10 and each registered beneficiary should invest a monthly saving of just Rs 5 per month with the MB&OCWB.

“We have organized a number of programmes and awareness campaigns in blocks and districts but not many construction labourers realized the significance of this welfare scheme for them and their family,” one of the officers said.

To become a registered beneficiary, construction labourers should have attained the age of 18 and should not complete 60 years of age.

For registration, a certificate to prove age and certificate from the employer or contractor should be produced.

But the labourers who did not get certificate from the employer or contractor can also get from the Block Labour Inspector or SDO (PWD) or SDO (PHE).

The benefits of a member worker who is a beneficiary include maternity benfits, welfare pension, advance for purchase or construction of house, disability pension, loan for purchase of tools, payment of funeral assistance, payment of death benefit, cash award educational institute, medical assistance to beneficiaries, financial assistance for education and marriage, family pension, skill development among others.