KOCHI: The welfare pension and other benefits for building construction workers have been pending for 16 months, affecting around 3.8 lakh workers. Payments due from April 2024, including pensions and other benefits, remain unpaid, with a total arrears of Rs 1,152 crore. Of this, pension arrears alone amount to Rs 992 crore, while other benefits total Rs 160 crore. Each worker is entitled to a monthly pension of Rs 1,600.
The government had assured in September 2024 that the arrears would be cleared within six months, but the promise has not been fulfilled. The Building and other construction workers welfare board, which operates through its own funds, mainly relies on workers’ contributions and building cess collections for its revenue.
Cess collections
The government had argued that arrears could be cleared through building cess collections. However, as of January 16, 2024, the cess arrears stand at Rs 400 crore. The plan to collect the cess online through the Information Kerala Mission software was expected to bring in Rs 80 crore per month, enough to pay off the pension arrears, but this calculation has fallen short.
“Revenue from the cess will gradually increase, allowing timely distribution of pensions and benefits,” said Minister V. Sivankutty in the Assembly.