The Ministry of Labour & Employment, Government of India, in collaboration with the Government of Maharashtra, concluded a two-day National Conference on Building and Other Construction Workers (BOCW) in Mumbai on September 12, 2026. The conference, held on September 11-12, brought together representatives from Central Government, State/UT Governments, BOCW Welfare Boards, and other stakeholders to deliberate on welfare, skilling, employment, and social protection of construction workers.
Union Minister Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya chaired Day 1 of the conference, with Union Minister of State Sushri Shobha Karandlaje also in attendance. On Day 2, Secretary Dr. Chandra Bhushan Kumar delivered opening remarks emphasizing the need to address information and accessibility asymmetries in the labour market and strengthen linkages between jobseekers and employers. He stressed the importance of considering worker mobility—both interstate and international—in social security and welfare scheme design, and called for greater attention to occupational health, physical safety, and workplace concerns.
The conference featured multiple thematic sessions. A session on "Roles and Responsibilities of BOCW Welfare Boards in the light of the New Labour Codes" included state presentations: Uttar Pradesh showcased its Skill Development initiatives for building workers, Rajasthan presented Digital Labour Chowks, Bihar highlighted Shram Seva Suvidha Kendras, and Assam demonstrated the Nirman Sakhi Portal. These were followed by discussions on strengthening welfare and employment service delivery.
Additional sessions included skilling presentations by the Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship, employment growth analysis by the Ministry of Labour & Employment, a dedicated session on the Labour Stack platform, and deliberations on the Construction Sector and Consumer Price Index for Industrial Workers (CPI-IW). The Secretary encouraged greater exchange of experiences between Centre and States, recommended consolidation of diverse measures, and suggested using actuarial analysis to support sustainable welfare interventions.