In Kerala there are many welfare measures taken for the benefits of the labours. There are many Welfare Fund Boards functioning in the state. These come under the Labour Department and are responsible for providing welfare amenities to the labours.
Some of the Welfare Boards are the following
- Kerala Abkari Workers’ Welfare Fund Board, Thiruvananthapuram
- Kerala Agricultural Workers’ Welfare Fund Board, Thrissur
- Kerala Building & Other construction Workers’ Welfare Board, Thiruvananthapuram.
- Kerala Cashew Worker’s Relief & Welfare Fund Board, Kollam
- Kerala Handloom Workers’ Welfare Fund Board, Kannur
- Kerala Headload Workers’ Welfare Fund Board, Ernakulam
- Kerala Labour Welfare Fund Board, Thiruvananthapuram
- Kerala Motor Transport Workers’ Welfare Fund Board, Kollam
- Kerala Tailoring Workers’ Welfare Fund Board, Thiruvananthapuram
- Kerala Toddy Workers’ welfare Fund Board, Thiruvananthapuram
- Kerala Beedi & Cigar Workers Welfare Fund Board, Kozhikode
- Kerala Bamboo, Kattuvally and Pandanus Leaf Workers’ Welfare Fund, Ernakulam
The Labour Department has also implemented 18 welfare schemes. Government also contributes to these welfare funds. Measures have been taken to restructure the welfare fund boards. This is done to prevent the duplication of membership and to provide a standard benefits to its members. A problem faced by the labour welfare funds is the high establishment cost.
Among the various schemes implemented, the Kerala Head Load Workers Welfare Fund Scheme is unique as the Head Load Workers Welfare Board has the status of a deemed employer. The Kerala Building and Other Construction Workers Welfare Board is also distinct because its functioning is regulated by the Building and Other Construction Workers Act 1996. So the Welfare Fund Cess is levied on construction works. The registered members are provided with benefits such as pension, PF, gratuity, medical benefits, educational scholarships to children of workers, grant for marriage of daughters, maternity benefits etc.
Kerala Welfare Fund Board is considered to be the backbone of the state administration. The details of various Welfare Fund Boards in Kerala are
1) Kerala Abkari Workers Welfare Fund Board
P.H.Road, Thiruvananthapuram
Chairperson – 333240
Chief Welfare Fund Inspector – 460397
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer – 386871
Divisional office, RVCARB 126, Thevally, Kollam – 9
Chief Executive – 0474-2796844
2) Kerala Artisans and Skilled Workers Welfare Scheme
Vrindavan Building, Gandhariammancovil Road, Thiruvananthapuram
Chairman – 326936
Chief Executive Officer – 329361
3) Kerala Beedi and Cigar Workers Welfare Fund Board
SPCA Road, Kannur
Chairman – 705090, 706133
Chief Executive Officer – 706133
4) Kerala Autorickshaw Workers Welfare Fund Scheme, Kollam
Chairman – 0471-327013, 742818
Chief Executive Officer – 742818, 741288
5) Traders Welfare Board
Thycaud P.O. Thiruvananthapuram
Chairman – 327016, 327876, 327976
Member Secretary and Chief Executive Officer – 324054, 324049
6) Kerala Cashew Workers Relief and Welfare Fund Board, Kollam
Chairman – 743469
Chief Executive – 740942, 743469
7) Kerala Building and Other Construction Workers Welfare Board, Thiruvananthapuram
Chairman – 347941
Secretary – 347942, 347943
8) Kerala Bamboo, Kattuvally and Pandanus Leaf Workers Welfare Fund Board
Angamaly South P.O., Ernakulam (Dist.)
Chairman – 2454443
9) Kerala Coir Workers Welfare Fund Board, Alappuzha
Chairman – 251577, 241740
Chief Executive – 251577
10) Kerala Fishermen’s Welfare Fund Board
Ayyappa Nagar, Punkunnam, Thrissur
Fishermen’s Welfare Commissioner – 0487-383088, 383053
Fax: 383053
11)Kerala Handloom Workers Welfare Fund Board, Kannur
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer – 702995
12) Kerala Headload Workers Welfare Board, Ernakulam
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer – 401448, 401990
Fax: 401448
13) Kerala Labour Welfare Fund Board
Vanchiyoor, Thiruvananthapuram.
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer – 470443
14) Kerala Motor Transport Workers Welfare Fund Board, Kollam
Chairman – 0471-742818, 327013
Chief Executive Officer – 742818, 741288
15) Kerala Ration Dealers Welfare Fund
enta City Towers, Killippalam, Thiruvananthapuram.
Chairman – 330617, 321152
Secretary and Chief Executive – 349612
16) Kerala Rural Employment and Welfare Society
Thycaud P.O. Thiruvananthapuram
.Chief Executive – 306040
17) Kerala State Co-operative Employees Pension Board, Thiruvananthapuram
Chairman and Secretary – 475681
18) Minimum Wages Advisory Board
Jagathy, Thiruvananthapuram
Chairman and Secretary- 321672
19) Kerala Tailoring Workers Welfare Fund Board
Thycaud, Thiruvananthapuram
Chairperson – 0471-338790
Chief Executive Officer – 0471-338592
20) Kerala Toddy Workers Welfare Fund Board, Thiruvananthapuram
Chairman – 333407
Secretary and Chief Welfare Fund Inspector – 448093