**Executive Summary**
This document presents the Government of India's response to allegations regarding digital initiatives for construction workers, specifically concerning the Digital Labour Chowk portal, Labour Chowk Facilitation Centres, and the Online Building and Construction Workers Cess Collection Portal. The response, dated for answer on 08.12.2025, addresses concerns raised by members of Lok Sabha. The response emphasizes the government's commitment to worker welfare and the implementation of related codes effective from 21.11.2025.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Government's Commitment:**
* The Central Government is dedicated to protecting and promoting the welfare, social security, safety, and health of building workers.
* Provisions related to these aspects are included in the Code on Social Security, 2020 (CoSS, 2020) and the Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code, 2020 (OSH & WC Code, 2020), effective from 21.11.2025.
* **Digital Labour Chowk:**
* A customizable mobile application for Digital Labour Chowk has been introduced for use by States/UTs, tailored to their specific requirements.
* This application aims to connect employers and laborers digitally, complementing physical labour chowks.
* **Labour Chowk Facilitation Centres (LCFC):**
* The Central Government is committed to upgrading existing labour chowks to LCFCs, enhancing infrastructure with amenities like drinking water, toilets, and creches.
* **Online Cess Collection:**
* Software for online collection of BOCW Cess has been introduced.
* States/UTs can customize and utilize the software as per their needs to facilitate effective BOCW Cess collection.
**Impact Analysis**
**Stakeholder: Central Trade Unions**
* **Impact:** The document references allegations that the Government did not consult Central Trade Unions before launching certain initiatives. This implies they are key stakeholders whose input is relevant for the successful and fair implementation of such initiatives.
* **Action Required:** No specific action is mentioned.
**Stakeholder: Construction Workers Federation of India (CWFI)**
* **Impact:** The CWFI raised concerns about the digital initiatives potentially leading to the "de-unionising" of construction workers.
* **Action Required:** No specific action is mentioned.
**Stakeholder: State Governments/Union Territories**
* **Impact:** States/UTs are responsible for customizing and utilizing the Digital Labour Chowk mobile application and the online BOCW Cess collection software according to their specific needs.
* **Action Required:** They need to customize and implement the digital solutions to connect employers and laborers and improve BOCW Cess collection effectiveness.
**Stakeholder: Construction Workers**
* **Impact:** Construction workers are intended beneficiaries of the welfare, social security, safety, and health provisions. They are also affected by the digital initiatives like the Digital Labour Chowk platform.
* **Action Required:** No specific action is mentioned.
**Stakeholder: Employers of Construction Workers**
* **Impact:** Employers are expected to engage with the Digital Labour Chowk platform for hiring.
* **Action Required:** No specific action is mentioned.
Key Entities Referenced
Code on Social Security, 2020 (CoSS, 2020): Referenced legislation related to social security, impacting the welfare of building workers.
Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code, 2020 (OSH & WC Code, 2020): Referenced legislation related to the safety, health, and working conditions, impacting the welfare of building workers.
Digital Labour Chowk: A digital platform or mobile application intended to connect employers and laborers, particularly in the context of building and construction work.
Labour Chowk Facilitation Centres (LCFCs): Physical centers established to facilitate labor and address issues related to labor chowks, including infrastructure improvements.
Construction Workers Federation of India (CWFI): Trade union expressing concerns about digital initiatives impacting construction workers.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1206
TO BE ANSWERED ON 08.12.2025
ALLEGATIONS AGAINST DIGITAL INITIATIVES FOR CONSTRUCTION
WORKERS
1206. SHRI VIJAYAKUMAR ALIAS VIJAY VASANTH:
SHRI EATALA RAJENDER:
SHRI CHAMALA KIRAN KUMAR REDDY:
Will the Minister of LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT be pleased to
state:
(a)whether the Government consulted Central Trade Unions before
launching the Digital Labour Chowk portal, Labour Chowk Facilitation
Centres (LCFCs), the new Cess Collection Portal and if so, the details
thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
(b)whether the Construction Workers Federation of India (CWFI) have
requested to review the recent launch of the Digital Labour Chowk
Portal/App, the establishment of Labour Chowk Facilitation Centres
(LCFCs), the new Online Building and Construction Workers Cess
Collection Portal and role of State and if so, the details thereof;
(c)whether the Government has taken note of the Construction Workers’
Federation of India’s (CWFI) allegation that the said digital initiatives
are aimed at “de-unionising” construction workers and if so, the
details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
(d)whether the Government has conducted any impact assessment on
the manner in which the said digital platforms will affect the
constitutional rights of workers to organise and unionise and if so, the
details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
(e)whether the Digital Labour Chowk platform enables or encourages
employers to bypass registered trade unions in workers hiring and if
so, the details thereof; and
(f)whether the Government has ensured that the said platforms will not
be used for surveillance, profiling or data-driven control over
construction workers and if so, the details thereof?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE FOR LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
(SUSHRI SHOBHA KARANDLAJE)
(a) to (f): The Central Government is committed to protect and
promote the welfare, social security, safety and health of building
workers. The provisions related to the same have also been provided in
Contd..2/-:: 2 ::
the Code on Social Security, 2020 (CoSS, 2020) and the Occupational
Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code, 2020 (OSH & WC Code,
2020), which have come into force on 21.11.2025.
The Central Government has introduced a customizable
mobile application for digital labour chowk, to be utilized by States/UTs
after its customisation as per their requirement, with a view to connect
the employer and labour, digitally, in addition to the physical labour
chowk.
The Central Government in consultation with States/UTs is
also committed for upgradation of existing labour chowks to Labour
Chowk cum Facilitation Centre (LCFC) to improve labour chowk
infrastructure with amenities like drinking water, toilets, creches etc.
The Central Government has also introduced a software for
online collection of BOCW Cess, to be customized and utilized by
States/UTs at their own level as per their requirements with a view to
provide them a comprehensive digital mechanism for collection of
BOCW Cess more effectively.
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