Saurabh Bhagat visits construction site of Employment complex at Bemina; inspects progress

Srinagar: Commissioner Secretary, Labour and Employment Department, Saurabh Bhagat, today visited the construction site of Employment complex at Bemina, to take stock of the progress on the prestigious work.
The project is being constructed at the cost of Rs 1030.30 crore which shall house the office of Director Employment besides the State Employment and Counselling centre.
Stressing upon the importance of the project, Saurabh fixed a timeline for the executive agency for laying the slab for the first floor on 20th of November 2020 saying that the building must be completed and ready for inauguration in the month of June 2021.
Since the Office of Labour Commissioner and CEO/Secretary J&K BOCWWB is also being raised at the same spot for which the draft and design has been prepared, the Commissioner Secretary directed the executive agency to start the ground work for the same for which a token money of Rs 30.00 lakh shall be released by Labour Commissioner.
The officer was accompanied by A.R War, Labour Commissioner J&K, Mohammad Rafeeq Bhat, Assistant Director Central and Ishtiyaq Ahmad, Executive Engineer R&B (PWD).
Meanwhile, Commissioner Secretary held an online meeting regarding various Labour Legislations particularly the Building & Other Construction Workers Welfare Cess Act besides reviewing progress under Mission Mode Project for registration of BOC workers, where-under all the left-out BOC workers are to be registered with J&K-BOCWWB. These registered workers shall be provided with the subsequent benefits under various welfare schemes of the Board.
It was informed that since the launch of MMP in July 2020, some 71500 workers have been registered raising the number of Active Workers to 298450.
Commissioner Secretary asked the ALCs to conduct a survey and prepare an exhaustive list of all the buildings that have been raised both in public as well as in private sector costing Rs. 10 lakh and above, which come under the purview of Cess Act to ensure that the cess Act is implemented in letter and spirit.
In order to plug leakages in levy and collection of cess, Labour Commissioner was directed to design a flying squad which shall carry surprise inspections across J&K.
During the meeting, the progress on directions issued by the Lieutenant Governor and the Business Revival Committee regarding the registration of Transport Workers who have migrated to construction sector with J&K-BOCWWB, were also reviewed. It was informed that around 350 such transport workers have been registered till date.
Commissioner Secretary stressed upon the ALCs to inform all such transport workers for registration through print and electronic media for which the Government of J&K has announced the economic revival package of Rs. 80 crore which shall be paid through DBT @1000 per month.
The meeting was attended by Labour Commissioner J&K, Addional Secretary Labour & Employment besides all Assistant Labour Commissioners of J&K through video conference.