Understanding BOCW Registration: Do Principal Employers and Contractors Both Need to Register?

Dear Seniors, The BOCW Act applies to every establishment that employs, or had employed on any day of the preceding twelve months, ten or more building workers in any building or other construction work. In relation to an establishment to which this Act applies on its commencement, registration must be completed within a period of sixty days from such commencement. For any other establishment to which this Act becomes applicable at any time after such commencement, registration must be completed within sixty days from the date on which this Act becomes applicable to such establishment.

Questions Regarding BOCW Registration

Considering the above rules, I want to know:

1. Is every principal employer required to register under BOCW?
2. If a principal employer has given a contract to a contractor, is there a compulsion for the principal employer to register under BOCW?
3. Under BOCW, do both the principal employer and the contractor have to register?

Please provide your guidance.

Regards

Dear Mahesh,

There is no such wording available as "Principal Employer" in the BOCW Act. It is only "Employer." Hence, whoever employs more than 10 workers on any day preceding 12 months will have to obtain the Registration Certificate. You can interpret this as the Principal Employer, Contractor, and Sub-contractor doing work with materials are to get a Registration Certificate.