Photo Source: Babushahi Bureau
Punjab Labour Department simplifies welfare schemes for workers; Read details
Babushahi Bureau
Chandigarh, August 13, 2025: Punjab Labour Minister Tarunpreet Singh Sond announced that several welfare schemes have been simplified to ensure easier access for workers.
He said that under the Shagun Scheme of the Punjab Building Workers Welfare Board, the earlier requirement of a marriage certificate issued by a Tehsildar has been removed.
Now, a certificate from the religious institution where the marriage was solemnized, along with self-declarations from both families, will be sufficient. Under this scheme, an amount of ₹51,000 is provided.
Similarly, maternity benefits of ₹21,000 for female construction workers and ₹5,000 for male workers will now be provided upon submission of the child’s birth certificate only, eliminating the earlier requirement of the child’s Aadhaar card.
The Punjab Labour Welfare Board has also removed the registered marriage certificate condition for availing the Shagun Scheme.Now, labourers can access this benefit by submitting photographs of the religious place and religious personalities who solemnized the marriage.
Sond further said that the Board has abolished the two-year service requirement under the Stipend Scheme for labourers’ children. Now, workers can avail the stipend benefit from the day they start making contributions.
He added that MNREGA workers who have completed more than 90 days of work are being encouraged to register with the Building and Other Construction Workers Welfare Board to access all associated benefits. A budget of ₹1 crore was approved for welfare scheme awareness during the 55th Punjab Labour Welfare Board meeting in February 2025.