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Author(s): Ravi Kushwah, Archana Sethi

Email(s): ravikushwah@prsu.ac.in , archanasethi96@gmail.com

Address: SoS in Economics, Pt. Ravishankar Shukla University, Raipur, Chhattisgarh, India.
SoS in Economics, Pt. Ravishankar Shukla University, Raipur, Chhattisgarh, India.
ravikushwah@prsu.ac.in, archanasethi96@gmail.com

*Corresponding Author: archanasethi96@gmail.com

Published In:   Volume - 32,      Issue - 2,     Year - 2026

DOI: 10.52228/JRUA.2026-32-2-5  

ABSTRACT:
Construction workers are recognised as one of the most vulnerable groups in the informal sector and have received considerable attention in the labour literature. This study adds to the existing body of work by developing a multidimensional Labour Rights Index (LRI). Using a labour rights framework, a composite index is constructed to assess the working conditions of 100 construction workers in Raipur City. The index draws on 18 indicators grouped into four domains: Wage and Income Security (WSI), Social Security and Welfare (SSI), Safety and Working Conditions (SAI), and Rights and Voice (RVI). Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, demographic comparisons, correlation matrices, and statistical tests (t-tests, ANOVA). The results portray a picture of moderate overall labour rights achievement, but with notably poor outcomes in welfare and grievance-related dimensions. Whilst caste and migration status show some association with lower rights scores, substantial deficits appear across all worker groups, indicating systemic enforcement failures that affect workers broadly, with social marginalisation due to caste and migration compounding baseline vulnerabilities. The study highlights critical gaps in policy implementation, particularly around safety standards, social security enrolment, and grievance redressal mechanisms.

Cite this article:
Kushwah; Sethi (2026). Labour Rights Status of Construction Workers: Evidence from Raipur City. Journal of Ravishankar University (Part-A: SOCIAL-SCIENCE), 32(2), pp.51-63. DOI:https://doi.org/10.52228/JRUA.2026-32-2-5


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