The Ministry of Labour & Employment, in collaboration with the Government of Maharashtra, is holding a two-day National Conference on Building and other construction workers in Mumbai on 11th and 12th September 2026. The main objective of the conference is to review and fast-track the implementation of three major worker-centric initiatives announced at the National Labour Conference in New Delhi in November 2025.
The conference will be attended by Union Minister of State Sushri Shobha Karandlaje, State Labour Ministers, Chairpersons and Secretaries of BOCW Welfare Boards and senior officials from Centre and States.
A key focus will be the State BOCW Digital Labour Chowk, Labour Chowk-cum-Facilitation centres and Online BOCW Cess Collection Portal. These initiatives are designed to make welfare delivery more dignified, accessible and transparent. The Digital Labour Chowk will be launched by nine States and UTs including Maharashtra, Telangana, Delhi, Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand, Bihar, West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh and Odisha to help workers find employment digitally and reduce dependence on intermediaries.
Bihar and West Bengal will inaugurate their Labour Chowk-cum-Facilitation centres in Mumbai, which will serve as single-window hubs where workers can access job information, welfare schemes and registration support. Madhya Pradesh and West Bengal will launch the Online Cess Collection Portal to bring efficiency and transparency in collection and monitoring of cess, ensuring that funds are properly tracked and used for workers’ welfare.
Together, these digital reforms aim to deliver easier employment access, doorstep facilitation and accountable fund utilisation for crores of construction workers across the country.
