Delhi mulls policy to increase workers’ death compensation

Delhi Labour Minister Kapil Mishra on Monday chaired a high-level review meeting at the Delhi Secretariat, issuing a fresh set of directions aimed at strengthening safety standards, improving health facilities and speeding up justice for workers in the Capital.

Mishra said the government was preparing a policy proposal to raise death compensation for workers, noting that stronger financial support for families of labourers who die in cases of accidental fatalities would be finalised soon.

The review also focused on improving working conditions for thousands of construction workers across the city.

“Health check-ups are a fundamental right of every worker. The Delhi Government will ensure that every construction worker receives essential health facilities and safety measures on time. This is not a matter of choice but of essential responsibility,” Mishra said, directing officials to ensure regular medical check-ups and primary health facilities at every construction site.

The meeting reviewed progress on expanding skill development programmes, modernising safety training at construction sites, and introducing certified courses to boost employability.

Mishra said on-site safety training must be made mandatory. A major concern raised in the meeting was the backlog of pending labour court cases.

Mishra said delays in such matters amounted to a violation of workers’ rights, and ordered the setting of fixed timelines for every case, with regular progress monitoring. To improve accessibility, he instructed officials to update the labour portal and make nodal officers’ contact details public so workers could seek quick assistance. The minister said filling vacancies in the Labour Department and restructuring responsibilities of officers must be done without delay to improve the department’s efficiency. “The government is working to build a system where no worker feels insecure about their rights, health or future. These steps are not just administrative reforms, but an important step towards social justice,” Mishra said.