BANGALORE: The Government will soon issue a notification constituting the Construction Workers' Welfare Board as announced in the State Budget for 2006-07, Minister for Labour Iqbal Ansari has said.

Participating in the May Day programme organised by the labour wing of the Janata Dal (Secular) here on Monday, he said the Board would assist construction workers in times of distress and start programmes for their betterment.

The Government had, in its budget proposals, promised that it would collect a one per cent cess on all construction works costing over Rs. 10 lakh. The cess would be utilised for launching welfare measures through the Board. Constituting the Board was the first step towards the Government's effort to address the problems of workers in the unorganised sector, he said.

The Government had a special concern for agricultural labourers who had no house of their own. It was also planning to introduce an insurance scheme for those in the unorganised sector, he said.

Claiming that development works in the State had gained momentum after the new government took over, Mr. Ansari said employment of child labour was rampant in the hotel industry, workshops and in vegetable vending. The Government had already initiated measures to prevent the exploitation of children, and it would step up measures to eradicate child labour.

Referring to the need to ensure the security of women working the night shift in the garment industry, Mr. Ansari said the Government had issued instructions to all such units.

Memorandum

Responding to a memorandum requesting that all the 1,500 workers of the Amanath organisation hired by the Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) be extended the benefits given to BMTC employees, Mr. Ansari said he would take up the matter with Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy and Transport Minister N. Cheluvaraya Swamy.

JD(S) labour wing president G. Sriramaiah welcomed the gathering. JD(S) national president H.D. Deve Gowda presided.

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