AIMIM Lawmakers Push for Doubled Compensation for Construction Centering Workers

Hyderabad: Two AIMIM legislators have called for a significant increase in death benefits for construction workers engaged in centering work, raising the demand during discussions with the state's Labour Minister.

Mohammed Mubeen, MLA from Bahadurpura, and Kausar Mohiuddin, representing Karwan, met Labour Minister Gaddam Vivek Venkatswamy on Monday to present their case. The representatives submitted a formal memorandum requesting that compensation for workers killed in construction accidents be raised from Rs 10 lakh to Rs 20 lakh.

The initiative came at the direction of AIMIM president Asaduddin Owaisi, who had previously engaged with members of the Greater Hyderabad Centering Contractors Association at Darussalam. During those discussions, association representatives detailed the hazardous conditions and challenges facing construction workers in the sector.

Centering workers perform one of the most dangerous roles in construction, undertaking high-risk tasks on multi-storey buildings throughout the year—across summer heat, monsoon rains, and winter months—often without adequate social recognition for their contributions. The association highlighted that these workers had been instrumental in constructing major state structures, including the Secretariat, Parliament, and Assembly buildings.

Beyond the compensation demand, the association has also pressed for revision of centering work rates. A rate adjustment was last requested in 2016, when the rate stood at Rs 46 per square foot. Workers have now sought an increase to Rs 51 per square foot, citing the impact of rising costs and persistent inflation on their livelihoods.

The AIMIM legislators have urged the Labour Minister to take prompt action to address these long-standing grievances and implement measures that would benefit centering workers.