The National Conference on BOCW, organized by the Ministry of Labour & Employment, took place in Mumbai from 11-12 September 2026. The event focused on assessing the evolving framework, sharing innovative practices, and addressing key challenges faced by construction workers.
On 09 SEP 2026, the Ministry of Labour & Employment, Government of India, in collaboration with the Government of Maharashtra, announced a National Conference on Building and Other Construction Workers (BOCW) to be held in Mumbai from 11–12 September 2026. Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, Union Minister of Labour & Employment and Youth Affairs & Sports, chaired the conference.
Attendees included Sushri Shobha Karandlaje, Union Minister of State for Labour & Employment and Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, as well as Labour Ministers and senior officials from States/UTs, Chairpersons and Secretaries of BOCW Welfare Boards, and senior officers from Central and State governments.
The construction sector is among the largest sources of employment in the country and supports the livelihoods of millions of workers. With the implementation of the new Labour Codes, the Conference served as an essential platform to take stock of the evolving BOCW framework and strengthen the functioning of Welfare Boards.
Deliberations covered statutory responsibilities, worker registration, welfare delivery, monitoring, utilisation of welfare funds, opportunities for greater convergence, and technology-enabled service delivery. An important component of the Conference was the sharing of innovative practices and successful interventions by State BOCW Welfare Boards to facilitate cross-learning and identify approaches that can be adapted and replicated to improve the reach and effectiveness of welfare measures for construction workers.
The Conference also reviewed progress on three major initiatives launched at the National Labour Conference held in New Delhi in November 2025—the State BOCW Digital Labour Chowk, Labour Chowk-cum-Facilitation Centres, and Online BOCW Cess Collection Portal. These initiatives aim to strengthen employment facilitation, provide more dignified and accessible worker-centric services, and improve transparency and efficiency in cess collection and monitoring.
Additionally, the Conference discussed International Labour Mobility Pathways, skilling and employment opportunities, labour statistics, and the labour stack.
Source:
Press Information Bureau
