Tripura Labour Minister Tinku Roy Calls for National Leber Database and Stronger Mechanism to Recover Unpaid Wages from Disappear Contractors

By Our Correspondent

Agartala, September 12, 2026

Tripura Labour Minister Tinku Roy has proposed two important measures to strengthen the protection of construction workers across the country at the National Conference of Construction Workers held in Mumbai.

Addressing the conference, Roy called for the creation of a national online database of migrant construction workers. He suggested that when workers from one state migrate to another state for employment, their details should be recorded through a common digital platform. Such a database, he said, would help authorities determine how many workers from each state are working outside their home state and would make it easier to ensure that migrant workers receive their legally entitled benefits and protections.

Roy also raised the issue of construction workers being left without their wages when contractors abandon projects and leave without clearing workers’ dues. He proposed fixing clear liability and accountability mechanisms so that workers can recover their outstanding wages from contractors who abscond after completing or abandoning construction work.

According to the Tripura Labour Minister, the creation of such a mechanism would prevent workers from being left helpless when contractors disappear and would provide a legal and administrative route for recovering their unpaid wages.

Roy said the two measures could benefit construction workers across the country, particularly by improving the implementation of provisions relating to wages, workplace safety, social security and other statutory rights.

The issue has particular relevance for Tripura, Roy pointed out. According to him, several outside contractor agencies that came to the state for work on national highway and other projects have allegedly left without paying outstanding wages to local workers. The affected workers have subsequently approached the Tripura Labour Department seeking recovery of their dues.

The minister stressed that construction workers play a vital role in the country's infrastructure and economic development and therefore deserve stronger institutional protection.

“Construction workers are among the key architects of the country’s development. Ensuring their dignity, safety and rightful entitlements is the responsibility of all of us,” Roy said.

The proposals raised by the Tripura minister at the national forum are aimed at addressing two persistent challenges faced by migrant and construction workers, tracking workers who move across state boundaries and ensuring accountability when contractors fail to pay wages. If implemented through an effective national framework, the measures could provide greater transparency and stronger protection for construction workers across India.

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