After objections, Punjab labour board drops voter ID, caste fields from online registration portal

Punjab BOCW Welfare Board removed voter ID and caste certificate fields from its online registration portal after objections from labour unions and activists.

Under labour codes, construction workers need only an Aadhaar card and a self-declaration of 90 days of construction work to register.

Labour rights groups said the additional documents would disproportionately affect migrant workers from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar who lack Punjab voter IDs.

Labour rights activist Vijay Waia welcomed the decision but questioned why the fields were introduced in the first place.

Principal Secretary Manvesh Sidhu said the fields were optional on the NIC-managed portal and registration could proceed without them.