BOCW Maharashtra Registration for Establishments, Construction Owners, Developers

Benefits of BOCW Registration

• Compliance with labor laws
• Workers get access to welfare schemes (medical aid, education, pension, etc.)
• Avoid legal penalties
• Ensure safety and better working conditions for workers

Legal Consequences of Not Complying with BOCW

• Penalty: Failure to register an establishment can result in a fine up to ₹1,00,000.
• Continuing Offence: ₹1,000 per day may be charged for continued violation.
• Safety Violations: Non-compliance with safety/welfare provisions can lead to imprisonment up to 3 months and/or additional fines.
• Work Stoppage: The government has the authority to halt construction activities until compliance is achieved.
• Legal Liability: Employer/establishment may face prosecution under labour laws and welfare provisions.

Complying with BOCW ensures not just legal safety, but also contributes to the well-being of your workforce.

Step-by-Step Registration Process

1. Visit official MAHABOCW website: https://mahabocw.in/
2. Create login credentials or login using digital credentials
3. Fill out the Establishment Registration form
4. Upload all required documents in PDF format
5. Calculate and pay the 1% welfare cess
6. Submit application and download acknowledgment
7. Track application status online

Important Provisions under the BOCW Act & Maharashtra Rules

The Government of Maharashtra has enacted the Maharashtra Building and Other Construction Workers (Employment Regulation and Conditions of Service) Rules, 2007, using the powers granted under Section 62 and Section 40 of the BOCW Act, 1996 (27 of 1996).

On 1st May 2011, the Maharashtra Building and Other Construction Workers Welfare Board (also known as the Triple Board) was formally approved and came into effect to implement the welfare schemes under the Act.

As per Section 3(1) of the BOCW Welfare Cess Act, 1996 and the notification issued by the Ministry of Labour & Employment, Government of India dated 26th September 1996, a cess at 1% of the total cost of construction (excluding land cost) must be paid.

The cess collection is overseen by designated officers from local authorities and government departments. As per the notification dated 16th April 2008 issued by the Maharashtra Department of Industry, Energy and Labour, certain officers are designated as:

• Cess Fixing Officers
• Cess Recovery Officers
• Assessing Officers
• Appellate Authorities

It is mandatory that the cess assessed must be deposited to the Welfare Board by the Cess Recovery Officer within 30 days using the prescribed forms.

Any establishment that employs 10 or more construction workers on any day—including projects by the central or state government, public sector undertakings, bodies like MHADA, CIDCO, MIDC, railways, telecommunication, power transmission, irrigation, bridges, tunnels, roads, oil and gas sectors, and even wireless/tower construction—must comply with these provisions.

Employment Regulations and Service Conditions

To ensure the safety, health, and welfare of building and other construction workers, both the Central and State Governments have issued several key legislations and rules. These govern the regulation of employment, service conditions, and welfare cess.

• The Building and Other Construction Workers (Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Service) Act, 1996
• The Building and Other Construction Workers Welfare Cess Act, 1996
• The Building and Other Construction Workers Welfare Cess Rules, 1998
• The Building and Other Construction Workers (Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Service) Central Rules, 1998
• The Maharashtra Building and Other Construction Workers (Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Service) Rules, 2007

All developers, contractors, and establishments engaging in construction activities involving 10 or more workers must adhere to the above laws. These provide the foundation for legal compliance, registration, and cess contribution under the BOCW framework in Maharashtra.

Cess Information under BOCW Act – Maharashtra

Provision of Cess

As per Section 3(1) of the Building and Other Construction Workers Welfare Cess Act, 1996 and Central Government Notification No. SO 2899 dated September 26, 1996, a cess at the rate of 1% of the total construction cost (excluding land value) is applicable.

The Government of Maharashtra, via its Industries, Energy and Labour Department notifications (Circulars dated 26.10.2009, 17.06.2010, and 21.07.2011), has laid out the cess collection procedure on government construction projects.

The cess amount must be credited to the Welfare Board’s bank account within 30 days from the receipt date.

How to Pay the Cess

Deposit the cess amount in favor of:
Name: Maharashtra Building and Other Construction Workers Welfare Board, Mumbai
Bank: Central Bank of India, BKC Branch, Bandra (East), Mumbai - 400051
Account Number: 3671178591
IFSC Code: CBIN0282611
Mode of Payment: Demand Draft / RTGS / NEFT only (Cheque NOT accepted)

The challan format and branch list of Central Bank of India are available on the official BOCW Board website.

Computerized Cess Payment System

The Board has also launched an online system for easy cess payments and monitoring. Establishments can use this digital platform to track and deposit cess more efficiently.

Penalty for Non-Payment of Cess

If cess is not paid within the stipulated time, a penalty of 2% per month is charged on the pending cess amount until recovery.

Where to Pay Cess – Designated Officers

Depending on the type of establishment, the following officers are authorized for cess collection, assessment, and appeal:

Establishment / Construction Owner / Developer Registration under BOCW Act

According to the Economic Survey of Maharashtra 2015-16, there are over 1.02 lakh construction establishments in the state. All such establishments are mandatorily required to register under Section 7 of the Building and Other Construction Workers (Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Service) Act, 1996.

Registration Fees Structure

The registration fee is based on the number of construction workers employed by the establishment:

All eligible construction establishments must complete their registration process on the official Maharashtra BOCW portal. Late registration may attract penalties or impact compliance status.