PART A

1. Broad Subject: Conditions of labourers in construction sites

2. Area of Specialization: Conditions of labourers in construction sites with special emphasis to
women, children and migrant workers
3. Duration: 3 weeks -20 days
4. A. Principal Investigator:
i. Name: Dr. Anita Rao
ii. Sex: Female
iii. Date of Birth:
iv. Qualification:
v. Designation:

vi. Address:
Office:
5. Faculty Guide

(i) Name: Miss. Siddhi Shaji

(ii) Sex: Female
(iii)

Date of Birth:

vii. Qualification:

Residence:

viii.

Designation: Assistant Professor

ix. Address:

Office:

Residence:

5. Name of the Institution where the project will be undertaken:

(a) Department : B.A.BL(HONS)
(b)College/University : SAVEETHA SCHOOL OF LAW, SAVEETHA UNIVERSITY
6. Whether the College/University is approved under Section 2 (f) and 12 B of the UGC Act?
Yes/No
7. Teaching and Research Experience of Principal Investigator :

(a) Teaching experience: UG ______Years

PG ______Years
(b)Research experience:
(c) Whether the project has been approved by the University for the doctoral degree ? If so, please
indicate :
i. Date of Registration :

ii. Name and designation of the supervisor approved by the University:

iii. Name of the University where registered :

(d) In case the teacher holds a doctoral degree :
a

Title of the thesis :

b Year of the award of degree:

c

Name of the University :

(e) Publication:
Papers Published :

Books Published :

Accepted :

Accepted :

Communicated :

Communicated :

( Please enclose the list of papers and books published and/or accepted during last five years )

PART B
Proposed Research Work
8. PROJECT TITLE
Conditions of labourers in construction sites with special emphasis to women, children and migrant
workers

INTRODUCTION
India witnesses a sustained growth in Construction business because of rapid growth of modernization
and industrialization. Even small towns and cities are urbanized today and this has led to faster pace
development in construction sectors. The construction sector paves way for infrastructure development
including roads, railways, ports, airports, electricity, oil gas pipelines etc., economic growth by
contributing for GDP and acts as a major employment provider which concerns poverty alleviation
among the masses. According to the report of International labour organization in 2007 the construction
industry contributes the second largest employment provider after agriculture and generally a primary
one in urban areas. In India, construction workers form the countrys third largest employee base and fall
in the unorganized or informal sector. The growth in construction Industry has necessitated in the
enactment of several welfare legislations in the protection of labour forces across the country. Such
legislations aim to prevent the employers from taking unfair advantage against the labour forces,
possible exploitations of labourers, child labour and bonded labour prohibition, and providing for
payment of minimum wages, fixation of working hours, provision for basic facilities, safety measures in
avoiding accidents and other welfare measures to be taken by the employer. In the present day it has
been found that there are pervasive violations of core workplace laws in almost every construction site.
Workers are being paid less than the minimum wage and are not receiving overtime pay. They are
working round the clock without pay, and not getting meal breaks at the right time resulting various
health related problems to the workers. When injured, they are not receiving due compensation. With
ever increasing price of necessary commodities, the issue of minimum wage is a serious one. There is
discrimination in the payment of wages among men and women and this is also found between the
migrant workers and the natives. Employers are mostly hiring the day laborers and these workers are
letting their employers to violate their rights because of their status as temporary workers. This paper
aims to give an idea about the provisions of labor law that are required to be complied with in any
construction sector, more specifically associated with buildings like huge apartments and to highlight the
possible violations of labor law in these construction sites and to lay a special emphasis upon the
vulnerable groups of society such as children, women and migrant workers.
ORIGIN OF THE RESEARCH PROBLEM
The intended project has its roots from our earlier discussions with the labourers working in various
construction sites at Chennai. It was during our first visit there as an undergraduate studying labour law

at the Saveetha School of law, Saveetha University that the real working conditions of these labourers
first captured our interest. It was then that we decided to find an answer by studying the labourers
employed in the construction sites with an attempt to find out the problems faced by these labourers. We
were more particularly interested in this project when we came across women in great numbers wearing
a towel rolled into a circular hat while they carried heavy loads, worked on the construction sites,
bringing their children to their work place and disentitling them the necessary education.
REVIEW OF RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT IN THE SUBJECT:
The existing literature on this research work mainly revolves around the published works of Indian
authors pertaining to the subject matter, well decided cases cited in the journal, and the articles published
in the website and welfare legislations pertaining to the matter. The research is empirical and also
involves data collection from five different construction sites located in Chennai.
NATIONAL STATUS
Construction Sector-Macro Aggregates in India
Macro Variable
1. GDP

from

2006-07

2007-08

2008-09

2009-10

2010-11

2.85

3.15

3.33

3.56

3.85

8.0

8.1

8.0

7.9

7.9

10.3

10.7

5.4

7.0

8.1

Construction (lakh
crore)
2. Share of GDP (%)
3. Growth

rate

for

GDP

in

Construction (%)

Source: Handbook of Statistics, RBI 201011

Forecasts for the market size of construction industry for the Twelfth Five year Plan period indicate that
that the aggregate output of the industry during the period 201213 to 20162017 is likely to be 52.31
lakh crores increasing from 7.67 lakh crores in 201213 to 13.59 lakh crores in 201617 (12 th five year
plan).
Surapati Pramanik, Sourendranath Chackrabart (2013) conducted a study on Problems of
Construction Workers in West Bengal Based on Neutrosophic Cognitive Maps Aim of the study is

to study the problems faced by construction workers in West Bengal in order to find its solutions using
neutrosophic cognitive maps, which is the generalization of fuzzy cognitive maps which found that the
major problems faced by the construction workers are working for more number of hours, staying away
from home, bad habits, absence of social security, misunderstanding, arguments with partners, stress,
skin problems, sexual behavior & sexual health problem, and physical health problems.
INTERNATIONAL STATUS

This statistic gives a breakdown of construction industry growth rates in selected regions worldwide in
2013. In the United States, construction output increased by 4.5 percent in 2013. That year, global
construction output was estimated to be around 7.5 trillion U.S. dollars (statista).
Baseline study of labour practices

on large construction sites in the

United Republic of

Tanzania presented before International Labour Office, Geneva (2005). The main part of the research
consists of a series of case studies of labour practices in ongoing construction projects in the roads and
buildings subsectors. Eleven projects were identified for study. They are seven civil engineering works,
mostly road construction projects, located around the country and four building engineering works in the
principal city, Dar es Salaam. All of the projects are in the public sector, in so far as a government
ministry or agency is the client for the project. Ten of the 11 projects are implemented by international
contractors, although Tanzanian firms are working as subcontractors on five of them. The study

concluded that It is concluded that the legal framework on labour practices in the construction industry
is generally adequate. However, there is a serious lack of monitoring and enforcement. The government
and its agencies have been weak in monitoring labour practices on construction sites and enforcing the
laws and regulations designed to protect the workers. At the same time, workers are generally not aware
of their rights and entitlements under the law and the contract.
Karin Mathiesen, Translated by Chris Saunders (2003) conducted a study on Work, Health and
Living Conditions for Construction Workers on Large-Scale Construction Projects exclusively on
the situations of Denmark. Aim of the study is to explore living conditions for construction workers
employed on the large-scale developments seen in Denmark in the past twenty years or so. It aimed
especially on the establishing the impact on workers health and general welfare of the type of life
typically associated with such projects: the strenuous work, long hours and on-site housing in so-called
construction camps.
SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
[This study will be a significant endeavor in promoting good work environment in the workplace
between the employers and labourers of construction sites. This study is intended to underline the real
conditions of labour force in the growing construction industry. By understanding the needs of the
students and benefits of quality education, these instructors and students be assured of a competitive
advantage. Moreover, this research will provide recommendations on how to evaluate the performance
of a certain institution in accordance to human resources management.
Moreover, this study will be helpful to the retail industry and business practitioners in training and
informing them in the area of human resources management, objectives, and strategies. It will also serve
as a future reference for researchers on the subject of human resources and corporate companies. And
importantly, this research will educate clients in deciding on whether an industry e.g. business industry
is really fulfilling its responsibility to the community or is just showing off to promote its business.]
RESEARCH QUESTION:
The stress and strain involved in working on large-scale developments exceed levels in the building and
construction sector on the whole

OBJECTIVES

To study the Socio-demographic profile of Construction workers.

To study the working conditions of women, children and migrant workers.
To find out the violations of labour law and give suggestions on the basis of the study.

METHODOLOGY
The study is an empirical research based on survey method and based on primary and secondary data.
For undergoing this research questionnaire survey and qualitative interview schedule is prepared
separately for women, children and the migrant workers to study their conditions in comparison with
other labourers.
Tools of Data Analysis: The data collected shall be analyzed with the help of various tools and
techniques to fulfil the research objectives. These include Percentage Analysis and Ranking.

RESEARCH PLAN:
DATA COLLECTION PROCESS:
Primary data is collected through empirical study and the secondary source of information is collected
for the purpose of comparative analysis with primary data.
INTENDED RESPONDENTS:
Women, children, migrant workers and other labourers working in the construction sites are the intended
respondents. This does not include the office staff, contractors, safety officer or other key managing
personnel.
RESEARCH PROCESS
The following steps were needed to achieve the objectives:
Identification of ongoing civil engineering and building projects suitable for the study;
Design and preparation of questionnaires for supervisors and workers;
Collection of information on current practices from the construction sites through interviews
with contractors, supervisors and workers;

 Review of the legal and regulatory framework on each of the issues of the study. The areas of
legislation under review include labour laws, social security regulations and occupational health
and safety regulations relating to the construction industry;
Review of the construction contracts used on the projects to see what rights and obligations are
specified in contract clauses
Analysis of data collected from the field and comparison with regulatory requirements
ACTION PLAN:
The copies of the project report is intended to be placed before the Ministry of Labour and Employment,
Government of India and Chief Labour Commissioner (central).
LIMITATION OF THE STUDY:
This research is done relying mostly on primary data and secondary sources such as articles and essays
published by authors online and few on books written on the conditions of labourers in construction
sites. Though such books are referred they do not contribute to the bulk of the research and my research
is mostly confined with the online sources and primary data. The area of research is only restrained to
the labourers in construction sites more particularly, the vulnerable sections of society such as women,
children and migrant workers.

LEGISLATIONS TO BE ANALYSED:

Indian Constitution

Building & Other Construction Workers (Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Services)

Act, 1996.
Contract Labour (Regulation & Abolition) Act, 1970
Employees Provident Fund Act, 1952
Employees State Insurance Act, 1948
Payment of Gratuity Act, 1972
The Child Labour (Prohibition & Regulation) Act, 1986
The Minimum Wages Act, 1948
The Workmens Compensation Act 1923
The Inter-State Migrant Workmen (Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Service) Act,

1979
International Labour organization conventions:

o Convention C167 - Safety and Health in Construction Convention, 1988 (No. 167)
o Convention C029 - Forced Labour Convention, 1930 (No. 29)
o Convention C182 - Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention, 1999 (No. 182)
o Convention C143 - Migrant Workers (Supplementary Provisions) Convention, 1975 (No. 143)
o Convention C156 Convention concerning Equal Opportunities and Equal Treatment for
Men and Women Workers: Workers with Family Responsibilities, 1981
o Convention C131 - Minimum Wage Fixing Convention, 1970

PLAN OF WORK AND TARGETS TO BE ACHIEVED

The research project is intended to be completed within a maximum of 30 days from the date of
approval of the proposal.
TIME CONSTRAINTS: 20 days
TIME FRAME WORK:
PROCESS

TIME FRAME

Preparation of questionnaires for supervisors and workers

3 days

Collection of information from the construction sites

5 days

Review of the legal and regulatory framework on each of the issues of the 4 days
study
Review of the construction contracts used on the projects

3 days

Analysis of data collected from the field 4 days

5 days
Time limit

20 days

FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE REQUIRED

Item
I.
II.

Estimated Expenditure
Books and Journals

5000

Equipment, if needed :

4000

Colour Xerox, print outs, distribution of questionnaire,

ordinary xerox, bindings and stationary
III.

Field Work and Travel

10000

IV.

Contingency ( first aid box to each construction site)

10000

Total: 29000
10. Whether the teacher has received support for the research project from the UGC under
Major, Minor, scheme of support for research or from any agency? If so, please indicate:
(i) Name of the agency from which the assistance was approved
(ii) Sanction letter No. and date under which the assistance was approved
(iii)

Amount approved and utilized

(iv)Title of the project for which assistance was approved

(v) In case the project was completed, whether the work on the project has been published
(vi)If the candidate was working for the doctoral degree, whether the thesis was submitted and accepted
by the University for the award of degree.
(A summary of the report/thesis in about 1,000 words may please be attached with the application)
If the project has not been completed, please state the reasons
11. (a) Details of the project/scheme completed or ongoing with the P.I
Place visited

Year

Complete
d

Construction

Started
31/8/201

site

7/9/2015

Total

Equipment/Infrastructural facilities obtained

10

Permission to visit the site and encouraged us to

visit more site by giving us OD
(on duty)

(b) Institutional and Departmental facilities available for the proposed work:
Equipment:
Other Infrastructural facilities:

9.

Any other information which the investigator may like to give in support of this proposal which

may be helpful in evaluating.

To certify that:
a. The University/ College is approved under Section 2(f) and 12(B) of the UGC Act and is fit to
receive grants from the UGC.
General physical facilities, such as furniture/space etc., are available in the Department/College.
c. I/we shall abide by the rules governing the scheme in case assistance is provided to me/us from the
UGC for the above project.

d. I/we shall complete the project within the stipulated period. If I/We fail to do so and if the UGC is
not satisfied with the progress of the research project, the Commission may terminate the project
immediately and ask for the refund of the amount received by me/us.
e. The above research Project is not funded by any other agency.
Name & Signature
(a) Principal Investigator

(b) Co- Investigator

(i)
(c) Registrar/Principal
(Signature with Seal)