Punjab announces pension scheme for workers

Chandigarh, April 21, 2015: The Punjab government today came out with a novel pension scheme under which all registered construction workers would be eligible for Rs 5000 pension per annum on completion of age of 60 years. The Building and other construction workers welfare board (BOCW) has devised a new scheme for the welfare of registered construction workers.

Stating this, a spokesperson of the Labour Department, Punjab, said that keeping in view the hazards they work under and keeping under consideration the time period of registration after the completion of 60 years of age, the board has decided to give pension at the rate of minimum Rs. 5000 per annum to the registered construction workers.

Divulging more details, the spokesperson said that this monetary incentive could be availed of by the workers to the maximum level of Rs. 20000 per annum.  According to the spokesperson, the board is implementing this scheme as per the long term plans of the Punjab Government to provide all possible help to the workers to enable them to be financially stable.

The spokesperson, while giving more details said that until 31 March, 2015 the board has already registered 3,02,664 construction workers as beneficiaries who would be able to avail the scheme. The spokesperson further conveyed that the board also plans to launch media campaign in a systematic way so as to make the workers aware about this scheme to enable maximum possible workers to enjoy the benefits listed in the scheme.