A STUDY ON PROBLEMS OF BUILDING

CONSTRUCTION WORKERS AT MYSORE

CITY
Ananda P, Research Scholar, University of Mysore, Mysuru
Prof. Y.S.Siddegowda, professor, University of Mysore, Mysuru
Abstract

Building construction is considered the foundation of industrial developments. In India, it is one of the fastest-growing industries with
an annual growth of 12%. Building construction workers are mainly working in informal/unorganised sector. Poverty, unemployment
and helplessness force people to leave their place of origin and to go to unknown places to work in extremely difficult condition.
Building Construction plays a major role in the development of the economy, where building construction workers face many problems
in their day-to-day life. Some of the problems are discussed in this study. The major problems are working for more number of hours,
physical problems, psychological problems, economic problems, educational level, work environment bad habits, and absence of social
security and welfare measures, stress, skin and physical health problems.

Keyword: Problems of building construction workers, Health Problems, psychological problems

INTRODUCTION

A building Construction worker in our nation is still unorganized, socially, economically, educationally backwards and
underemployed. This category of worker suffers more than other construction workers. The workers engaged in building construction
works belong to weaker section and so that they are unable to organize themselves in search of their common interest. Consequently,
building construction workers face a lot of problems such as lack of work security, low wage, more hours of work, and lack of social
and medical welfare facilities. (K.Ponnaian, 2016)

The building construction workers face financial problems, health problems, diseases, mishaps and even loss of life. Moreover, the
lack of social welfare measures and social security and medical benefits affect the construction workers. Because there is irregular
leisure time, no regulated time for work, insufficient employment, every day the workplace is changing,unregulated wages, etc., the
study covers such construction workers and their physical, psychological, economic problems and welfare measurers. (Dr Guddi
Tiwary, 2012)

The building construction industry is a major source of employment in India about 15 million are working. Due to the advent of
industrialization and recent developments, the workers engaged in building construction industry are victims of different occupational
disorders and psychosocial stresses, the wages are not adequate to meet this contingency, against this the government providing various
social security schemes to meet contingencies and welfare of labour, but in practice these schemes are not access to majority of
workers. (Alluri Balaji, 2015)

the problems of building construction workers, like lack of social security, low wages, exploitation from contractors and degraded
social status and also the problems from money lenders. the building construction industry is one of the most important sectors which
generates employment opportunities and improves the standard of living of many people in rural and urban areas. In fact, the majority
of people depend on this industry for employment and income. It is important to note that this unorganized sector which is the basis for
economic development. The workers engaged in construction works are socially and economically backwards and so that they are
unable to organize themselves in pursuit of their common interest. (P.Prasanna, 2016)

Building construction workers constitute a major portion of the unorganized labour and are characterized by a temporary relationship
with the employer, lack of safety and health measures, their casual nature of employment, prolonged and uncertain working hours, and
inadequacy of basic amenities and welfare facilities. There are many legislation clauses providing safeguards for contract workers in
India. Construction safety has been made legally enforceable after the enactment of the Building and Other Construction Workers
(Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Service) Act in 1996 and the Central Rules in 1998. (Sivaprakash, 2018)

The problems of building construction workers differ from place to place and work to work depending on chemicals, the noise, tools or
types of equipment, availability of safety measures, height and environment building construction workers are poor and vulnerable.
Their work is totally temporary in nature. Socio-economic stresses are one of the major outcomes of their occupation. Health and safety
measures are not being provided or adopted by them while working. (Chauhan, 2017)

Building construction workers are coming under the classification of the unorganized sector. The unorganised sector workers suffer
from cycles of extreme seasonality of employment, no formal employer-workers relationship and lack of social security protection.
Worker’s cooperation is possible only when he is fully satisfied with his employer, working condition. (Raval, 2018)

Usually, it was believed that an employer’s duty was limited to paying their wage satisfactorily, but later it is realized that workers
expect something beyond wage.

Voluntary welfare measures like Medical facility, education facility, transport, recreation and housing etc. makes the workers feel more
satisfied and motivates the worker. The government promulgated/framed Acts and Rules for regulation of working conditions and
workers in the building construction industry. Health and safety welfare measures have also been included in some Acts, especially the
social security schemes framed by different governments. (Chandan Mehr, 2016)

METHODOLOGY

This specific study monitors the quantitative methods and descriptive design. An interview schedule was equipped based on the
objectives of the study. Direct personal interview technique is used to collect data from the building construction workers. convenient
sampling technique has been adopted building construction were collected from eighty respondents at Mysuru city building
construction industries.

OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY

 To study the problems of building construction Workers at Mysore city

 To know the physical problems of building construction workers
 To study the psychological problems of building construction workers
 To Understand the economical problems faced by building construction workers

FINDINGS

The building construction industry is not providing the minimum facilities such as health and safety measures to the building
construction workers in the worksite. Mainly, some of the workers working with cement, granite metals, water the mixture (Concrete)
of sand, to build mouldings and build the buildings, constructing the houses, schools, hospitals etc., the building construction workers
are facing physically, Mentally and economical problems in day to day life.

THE MAIN FINDINGS ARE GIVEN BELOW

 68.percent of the building construction workers are living in urban areas.

 78 per cent of the building construction workers get employment two to four days a week.
 Average minimum working hours in a day is 5.91 hours
 Average maximum working hours in a day is 10.11 hours
 55 per cent of the building construction workers are getting less than ½ an hour for rest during the work which includes lunchtime
also
 80 per cent of the building construction workers never get lunch during the work, but the will be paid Rs. 40 – Rs.60 for lunch
which will be added with the wage.
 84 per cent of the construction workers is affected physically due to the nature of the work.
 70 per cent of the workers suffer due to body pain
 36 per cent of the workers suffer due to chest pain
 34 per cent of the workers suffer due to injury
 30 per cent of the workers suffer due to eye problem
 20 per cent of the workers suffer due to skin problem
 30 per cent of the building construction workers have unfavourable habits such as drinking (26%), Smoking (32%), Tobacco
consuming (10%), Pan Consuming (12%),
 74 per cent of the population is suffering from the psychological problem due to the nature of the work. change of work time every
day (40%),
 height of the workplace (38%),
 change of workplace, every day (26%),
 lack of toilet facilities (20%),
 lack of transport facilities (30%)
 52 per cent of the workers are living at the hut house
 An average minimum wage of the workers is Rs.250
 An average maximum wage of the workers is Rs.450
 66 per cent of the workers have no saving habit
 88 per cent of the workers have loans in which 70 per cent of the workers have a loan from the money lender
 70 per cent of the workers pay more than Rs.8 to 9 per cent as interest for their loan (for per month for per hundred)
 40 per cent of the workers have not registered them in the Mysore building construction Workers Welfare Board

CONCLUSION

Additionally, the governments, as well as the Non-Governmental Organizations are being neglected the unorganized labour class and
their actual requirements in daily life. The building construction workers need to be brought out from weakness. Numerous issues such
as hazardous work environment health, education, economic, and skill up-gradation need to be undertaken as welfare activities. Most
building construction workers are leading their life below the poverty line due to numerous reasons. Fights for better minimum wages
and good working conditions cannot yield result only by the formatting of trade unions of the building construction workers. Non-
Governmental Organisations must play an active role in developing an affectionate model of intervention which can be adopted by the
governmental agencies and the building construction owners.

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