Delhi’s government has announced a financial relief package for construction workers affected by stringent anti-pollution restrictions, signalling an attempt to balance urgent public health measures with economic protection for vulnerable urban labour. Under the decision, registered construction workers who lost employment due to the enforcement of Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) Stage III measures will receive a one-time compensation of ₹10,000.
The support will also extend to workers impacted during the period GRAP Stage IV restrictions remain in force, officials said at a briefing on Wednesday. Alongside this, all government and private institutions have been directed to shift at least 50 per cent of their workforce to work-from-home arrangements, with compliance becoming mandatory from Thursday. The move comes amid sustained poor air quality across the national capital, where construction activity is a major contributor to particulate emissions during winter months. While GRAP measures are designed to curb pollution spikes, they often result in sudden work stoppages, disproportionately affecting daily-wage earners in the construction and allied sectors.
A senior labour department official said the compensation aims to cushion income shocks for workers whose livelihoods are directly tied to site-based employment. “Pollution control cannot come at the cost of urban workers falling into distress. This intervention seeks to offer short-term stability while restrictions remain necessary,” the official noted. Only workers registered with the government’s welfare boards are eligible, with enrolment still underway. Essential services, including hospitals, emergency response teams, and departments directly engaged in pollution mitigation, have been exempted from work-from-home requirements to ensure continuity of critical operations. Urban policy experts say such targeted exemptions are vital to maintaining city functionality during environmental emergencies.
Industry observers point out that the compensation highlights a recurring challenge for Indian cities: aligning environmental regulation with inclusive economic planning. Construction workers, many of whom are migrants, often lack formal savings or social security buffers. Temporary income support, experts argue, should be complemented by longer-term reforms such as portable welfare benefits, cleaner construction practices, and accelerated adoption of low-emission building technologies. The mandatory work-from-home directive for half of the workforce also reflects an evolving urban governance approach, using flexible employment models to reduce vehicular emissions during peak pollution episodes.
Urban mobility specialists say this measure, if enforced effectively, can significantly cut daily commuter traffic without halting economic activity. As Delhi continues to grapple with structural air quality challenges rooted in transport, construction, and regional emissions, the latest steps underline the need for integrated solutions. Protecting public health while safeguarding livelihoods will remain central to building a more resilient, low-carbon, and socially equitable urban future.
Delhi Announces ₹10000 Compensation For Workers Pollution Curbs Enforce Work From Home
