Kottayam: Thousands of workers across Kerala are facing prolonged delays in receiving their benefits under various Labour Welfare Fund Boards, with a staggering ₹2011.59 crore still unpaid. These backlogs span across 11 of the 16 welfare boards under the Labour Department, with pension payments making up the largest portion of the dues.
One of the most severely affected groups is the Tailoring Workers Welfare Board, where maternity assistance claims have been pending for an alarming 44 months. Additionally, workers expecting marriage aid and maternity benefits in several boards have faced delays ranging from six months to a year. The worst-hit welfare board is the Construction Workers Welfare Board, which alone accounts for ₹1392 crore in unpaid pensions.
A breakdown of outstanding payments highlights the crisis across various labour sectors:
Agricultural Workers Welfare Board: ₹493.28 crore pending for long-term allowances, ₹1.91 crore for marriage assistance, and ₹7.14 crore for maternity benefits.
Eetta (Palm Leaf) Workers: Pension dues total ₹4.80 crore, with maternity assistance pending at ₹5.64 crore.
Beedi Workers: ₹1.79 crore in unpaid pensions.
Construction Workers: ₹1392 crore in delayed pensions, making it the highest backlog among all welfare boards.
Cashew Workers: ₹27.40 crore pending for contributory pensions (three months) and ₹2.28 crore for old-age pensions (11 months).
Handloom Workers: ₹4.07 crore in pension backlogs (three months).
Headload Workers: 4,989 beneficiaries affected, with ₹2.39 crore pending for three months.
Jewellery Workers: ₹5.70 crore pending for three months of pension payments.
Small Plantation Workers: ₹45 lakh in pension arrears (three months).
Tailoring Workers: ₹7.71 crore pending in maternity assistance (44 months) and ₹49.34 crore in pension payments (three months).
Unorganised Sector Workers: ₹5.69 crore in pension dues (three months).
The delays have left thousands of workers and their families struggling to make ends meet, raising concerns about the efficiency and financial stability of Kerala’s labour welfare boards. Workers and trade unions are urging the government to take immediate action to resolve the crisis and ensure timely disbursement of welfare benefits.
