Socio-Economic Survey of

construction workers in IITG

With special emphasis on Rural labour Migration

Outline of the presentation: Status of Workers

Economic Conditions

Living conditions & Social Security measures

Migrant workers

Conclusion

Aims & Objectives:

To find out the socio-economic status of workers at the work site.

To understand the problem and concerns of migrant workers.

Methodology :

Primary data collection through questionnaire

Collection of data method: Random Sample survey

Interviews with workers and contractors

Statistical tool used: MS excel

Details of Survey Area :

Construction site: Brahmaputra Boys hostel.

Name of the construction firm: M/S Badri Rai & CO. ltd.

No of workers: 250 as on 30th October.

Sample size: 20% i.e. 52 out of 250

Number of male workers: 33

Number of female workers: 19

State wise distribution of worker

78

12

64

ASSAMBIHARU.PWEST BENGAL

No. of years working in this worksite (IITG) in %

< 1 > 1 > 2 > 5 & above

0

10

20

30

40

50

60 52

1513 20 less than 1 yr

above 1 yr

above 2 yrs

5 yrs & above

Age wise distribution in %:

27

27

40

6Age in yrs

18-25

25-30

30-35

35 & above

Educational details in %

illiterate literate Matriculate Inter & above0

10

20

30

40

50

60

36

54

82

Education level

Education level

Occupational Details in % :

Primary

Secondary

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100

94

6Agriculture

Column1

Skilled and unskilled labour in %

4

96

Skilled (Mason,Electrician,Carpenter)

Unskilled (manual labour)

Work Status : • Nature of work: Contractual

• Type of work: masonry,carpentry,rod-binding,electrician

• No. of days working: 26 days/month

• Work hours: 8 hours

• Wage payment : Fortnightly/15 days

• Overtime: varies from Rs.12 to Rs.20/hr

Wage rates* in Rs:

0

50

100

150

200

250250

230

180 180150

* Per day

Economic condition of the workers• Earnings: it ranges from Rs3500 to Rs.7500

• Expenditure on food items: Rs.800 to Rs.2000

• Miscellaneous expenses: Rs. 250-Rs.500

• Savings: Rs.2000- Rs. 3000

• Bank account: only 20% workers have Bank A/c.

• Debt: reluctant to disclose

• Remittance : saving part of their income is sent to home

Living conditions• Housing facilities: only for male workers

• Kitchen : no separate kitchen facility

• Source of fuel: firewood provided by the contractors

• Ration: not provided, workers have to purchase themselves

• Access to potable drinking water: hand-pump, but it contains iron

• Electricity: 24 hours facility

• Toilet : available at the worksite, separate for men & women

Social security • Medical facility:

• 24 hrs medical aid is available for minor injuries

• Provision for compensation during accidents & major injuries

• Sickness benefit: Leave without pay

• Insurance Coverage: provision is there during accidents/death.

Migrant workers:• No. of migrant workers: 11 ( maximum are form Bihar)

• No. of male migrants: 11

• No. of female migrants: nil

• Most of the migrant workers are skilled workers.

Problem & concerns of migrant workers :

The landless poor who mostly belong to lower castes, economically backward regions constitute the major portion of Migrant workers in the work site.

These migrant workers are backward communities and poor regions of Bihar, Orissa, Uttar Pradesh travel to far distances seeking employment at the lowest rungs in construction of roads, irrigation projects, commercial and residential complexes.

The pull factors of higher wages is the main cause external migration.

Continued… As they are migrant workers, they do not possess Public

Distribution System (PDS) Cards and hence forced to buy food grains and kerosene at higher market prices.

Remittance is the prime source of their family income.

Outcome :• Even though construction workers here belongs to the

unorganized sector :• contractorspaytimelywagesequalorhigherthantheminimumwageprevalentoutsideinthemarket.

• providesuitableresidentialaccommodation,providemedicalfacilities,socialsecurity,compensationtoinjuries,accesstodrinkingwater,andhealthcareisprovided.

• FemaleworkersaremuchlessinnumbersasComparedtomaleworkers.

• Majorityofworkersaresatisfiedwiththeirwork.

……………..

Thank you !!