In a big relief to the construction workers of the state, the Punjab Government has implemented a New Pension Scheme, under which registered construction workers up to the age of 60 years would be benefitted. The total construction workers in the state are 1.5 lacs.It was disclosed by Chunni Lal Bhagat in a high level meeting of Labour Department. He informed that the construction workers of Punjab Building and Other Construction Workers Welfare Board, who have completed 60 years of age and enrolled with the board since five years, could get Rs.4,000 per annum pension, while Rs.6,000 for 10 years and Rs.8,000 for 15 years and Rs.10,000 per annum pension for 20 years.Mr. Bhagat said that under this new health insurance scheme, the construction worker could avail free treatment up to Rs.1.5 lacs. He said that this scheme would be cash less in the private hospitals, while in government hospitals; there is provision to compensate the expenditure incurred on treatment.
Minister further said that the officials have been instructed to effectively implement the Punjab Building and other Construction Workers Act-1996 so that more and more workers could avail the welfare schemes.Stressing the need to propagate the various schemes being run by the Punjab Building and Other construction Workers Welfare Board, Mr. Bhagat said that at present scholarship, financial assistance and credit schemes are being implemented by the board. He appealed the workers to get benefit from the welfare schemes.Prominent amongst other, who were present on the occasion included Mr. Vishavjeet Khanna, Principal Secretary, Labour Department, Mr. Manmohan Singh, Chief Engineer, Local Bodies, Harish Nair, Assistant Labour Commissioner, Mr. Parkash Singh, Executive Engineers, Rural Development and Panchayat Department.