Patna : A two-day state-level event to mark International Workers’ Day concluded in Patna on Thursday, with government officials, labour experts and workers coming together to recognise labour contributions and debate the challenges of a changing economy.
Organised by the Bihar Building and Other Construction Workers Welfare Board under the state’s Labour Resources Department, the event was held at the Dashrath Manjhi Labour and Employment Institute. The state’s Labour Minister, Santosh Kumar Singh, inaugurated the programme by flagging off information vehicles designed to raise awareness about 16 welfare schemes targeted at construction and informal workers.
“These schemes are part of our commitment to building a secure and inclusive future for Bihar’s workers,” Singh said, adding that the government would consider integrating the ideas shared during the panel sessions into future labour policy. “Our priority is to ensure social security, welfare, and training for all workers so they can actively contribute to the economy.”
The event included panel discussions, award ceremonies, and distribution of welfare benefits. Speakers included Michiko Miyamoto, director of the ILO’s Decent Work Team for South Asia, and Deepak Anand, Secretary and Chair of the BOCW Board, both of whom underscored the need for coordinated action to protect workers’ rights and promote social equity.
One of the highlights was a panel on gig and platform workers, exploring how India’s growing digital economy is reshaping its labour force. Senior officials and academics, including Deepak Kumar Singh (Additional Chief Secretary), Dr Dhanya MB (VV Giri National Labour Institute), and Karun Gopinath (ILO), called for urgent attention to the precarious conditions of gig workers and the importance of extending social security to them.
The final panel on “Building a Resilient Future for Bihar’s Labour Force” featured former Union Minister Sanjay Paswan and labour experts Alakh Narayan Sharma, Amarkant Singh, and Prof Neel Ratan. The discussion focused on the roles of training, innovation, and inclusive policymaking in strengthening the labour force.
As part of the closing ceremony, 80 workers from seven establishments across Bihar were honoured by the Factory Inspectorate for outstanding contributions to their respective fields. Financial assistance under welfare schemes was also distributed to selected beneficiaries.
In his concluding remarks, Labour Commissioner Rajesh Bharti thanked all attendees and reiterated the department’s commitment to labour empowerment. The event, he said, was not just a celebration of May Day but a platform to shape a more equitable future for Bihar’s workers.
