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IS 10302:1982 is the Indian Standard (BIS) for unified nomenclature of workmen for civil engineering. This standard establishes a unified nomenclature for various categories of workmen in the civil engineering industry. It categorizes labor into unskilled, semi-skilled, skilled, and highly skilled, providing standardized designations to ensure clarity and consistency in contracts, muster rolls, and project documentation.
Unified Nomenclature of Workmen for Civil Engineering
! Primarily used by contract administrators, site supervisors, and quantity surveyors for preparing labor schedules and bills of quantities.
! Helps in clarifying the skill level and expected duties associated with a specific job title across different projects.
! While officially in force, many modern contracts may use different or more contemporary job titles; however, it remains a foundational reference for traditional item rate contracts.
International Equivalents
Similar International Standards
ISCO-08International Labour Organization (ILO), International
HighCurrent
International Standard Classification of Occupations, 2008
Provides a global hierarchical framework for classifying occupations, including detailed construction trades.
2018 SOCBureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), USA
MediumCurrent
Standard Occupational Classification
Classifies all US workers for statistical purposes, with a dedicated major group for Construction and Extraction Occupations.
SOC 2020Office for National Statistics (ONS), United Kingdom
MediumCurrent
Standard Occupational Classification 2020
Defines UK occupational groups for statistics, with a specific sub-major group for skilled construction and building trades.
ANZSCO Version 1.3Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) & Statistics New Zealand, Australia/New Zealand
MediumCurrent
Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations
Classifies all occupations in Australia/NZ, with a major group covering Technicians and Trades Workers, including construction.
Key Differences
≠The primary purpose of IS 10302 is to ensure uniformity in contracts and tenders, whereas international standards like ISCO-08 and national SOCs are designed for statistical analysis, workforce planning, and census data, not for direct contractual use.
≠IS 10302 uses a simple three-tier classification (Skilled, Semi-skilled, Unskilled), while international systems like ISCO-08 use a complex, multi-level hierarchical structure based on formal skill levels (typically 4 levels) linked to education and training.
≠IS 10302 is limited exclusively to civil engineering workmen. In contrast, international classifications are comprehensive, covering all occupations across all sectors of an entire economy.
≠The Indian standard includes culturally and regionally specific job titles such as 'Mazdoor', 'Bhisty', and 'Mistry', which do not have direct one-to-one equivalents in the generic, globally-oriented terminology of international standards.
Key Similarities
≈Both IS 10302 and international classifications share the fundamental objective of creating a standardized and unambiguous language for describing occupations to improve communication and consistency.
≈Core construction trades like 'Mason', 'Carpenter', 'Plumber', and 'Bar Bender' are recognized and defined in both the Indian standard and its international counterparts, reflecting the universal nature of these skills.
≈Both systems use task-based descriptions to define an occupation. A worker's classification is determined by the principal duties and functions they perform on a construction site.
≈Although the structure differs, both systems implicitly or explicitly recognize a hierarchy of skills. The 'Skilled/Semi-skilled/Unskilled' categories in IS 10302 are a simplified parallel to the formal skill levels defined in systems like ISCO-08.
Parameter Comparison
Parameter
IS Value
International
Source
General Labourer Designation
Mazdoor (Unskilled)
Building Construction Labourer (Skill Level 1)
ISCO-08 (Code 9313)
Mason Designation
Mason (First Class/Second Class - Skilled)
Bricklayers and Related Workers (Skill Level 2)
ISCO-08 (Code 7112)
Carpenter Designation
Carpenter (First Class/Second Class - Skilled)
Carpenters and Joiners (Skill Level 2)
ISCO-08 (Code 7115)
Reinforcement Steel Worker
Bar Bender and Fixer (Skilled)
Structural-metal Preparers and Erectors (Skill Level 2)