Daijiworld Media Network – Panaji

Panaji, Aug 11: The State government will soon amend the Goa Building and Other Construction Workers (Regulation of Employment and Condition of Service) Rules, 2008, making it mandatory for establishments with more than 500 workers to register.

The move comes after the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) flagged that not a single such establishment was registered with the Department of Labour and Employment. The government has assured the CAG that the amendments will be in line with the Central BOCW Rules, 1998, which also include a fee structure for large establishments.

At present, the State rules have no provision for registration fees for units employing over 500 workers. The department currently charges between Rs 500 and Rs 5,000 for establishments employing up to 500 workers.

According to the CAG report tabled in the Assembly, the absence of provisions for larger units is a regulatory gap that needs immediate correction. The government has acknowledged the observation and confirmed that the rule change will introduce a registration fee for establishments above the 500-worker threshold.