FAST READ
- The National Conference on Building and Other Construction Workers was organised in Mumbai on 11-12 September 2026.
- Nine States/UTs were set to launch State BOCW Digital Labour Chowk initiatives for better access to employment-related services.
- Madhya Pradesh and West Bengal were to launch online BOCW cess-collection portals, while Bihar and West Bengal were to inaugurate Labour Chowk-cum-Facilitation Centres.
WHY IN NEWS
- Construction workers are highly mobile and often informal, making registration, portability and welfare delivery difficult.
- The 2026 conference reviews whether digital employment facilitation and cess systems can improve worker access while strengthening BOCW-board accountability.
TOP DATA & FACTS
- The conference dates are 11-12 September 2026.
- The venue is Mumbai.
- The Union Ministry of Labour & Employment is the central organising ministry.
- Nine States/UTs were identified for Digital Labour Chowk launches.
- They include Maharashtra, Telangana, Delhi, Madhya Pradesh and Jharkhand.
- They also include Bihar, West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh and Odisha.
- Madhya Pradesh and West Bengal were to inaugurate online BOCW cess portals.
- Bihar and West Bengal were to launch Labour Chowk-cum-Facilitation Centres.
- The initiatives follow the National Labour Conference held in November 2025.
- BOCW welfare boards operate at State/UT level.
- Construction-worker welfare is financed significantly through the BOCW cess framework.
- Digital Labour Chowk is intended to improve access to employment-related services.
- Facilitation centres are intended to provide worker-centric access to welfare and employment support.
- The conference brings together Centre, States/UTs and BOCW Welfare Boards.
PRELIMS
- BOCW refers to Building and Other Construction Workers.
- BOCW welfare administration involves State/UT welfare boards.
- A cess is collected to finance worker welfare under the statutory framework.
- Digital registration can help portability but may also create exclusion if authentication fails.
- Construction workers are often inter-State migrants.
- Employment facilitation and welfare-benefit delivery are related but distinct functions.
QUICK REVISION
- Conference: Mumbai, 11-12 Sep 2026.