Registration of building workers as beneficiaries

(1) Every building worker who has completed eighteen years of age, but has not completed sixty years of age, and who has been engaged in any building or other construction work for not less than ninety days during the preceding twelve months shall be eligible for registration as a beneficiary under this Act. (2) An application for registration shall be made in such form, as may be prescribed, to the officer authorised by the Board in this behalf. (3) Every application under sub-section (2) shall be accompanied by such documents together with such fee not exceeding Rs. 50 as may be prescribed. (4) If the officer authorised by the Board under sub-section (2) is satisfied that the applicant has complied with the provisions of this Act and the rules made thereunder, he shall register the name of the building worker as a beneficiary under this Act: Provided that an application for registration shall not be rejected without giving the applicant an opportunity of being heard. (5) Any person aggrieved by the decision under sub-section (4) may, within thirty days from the date of such decision, prefer an appeal to the Secretary of the Board or any other officer specified by the Board in this behalf and the decision of the Secretary or such other officer on such appeal shall be final: Provided that the Secretary or any other officer specified by the Board in this behalf may entertain the appeal after the expiry of the said period of thirty days if he is satisfied that the building worker was prevented by sufficient cause from filing the appeal in time. (6) The Secretary of the Board shall cause to maintain such registers as may be prescribed. (2) The provisions of sub-section (1) shall, in relation to the following classes of building workers, apply only to such extent, and subject to such conditions, as may be prescribed, namely:— (a) persons engaged on urgent work, or in any emergency which could not have been foreseen or prevented; (b) persons engaged in a work in the nature of preparatory or complementary work which must necessarily be carried on outside the normal hours of work laid down in the rules; (c) persons engaged in any work which for technical reasons has to be completed before the day is over; (d) persons engaged in a work which could not be carried on except at times dependant on the irregular action of natural forces.