[Earlier, the law applied to units with 20 or more workmen. After the amendment in Maharashtra, it will apply to units with 50 or more employees. As a result, smaller units or contracts covering between 20 and 49 workers will no longer come under its purview. ... "As a result of the amendment, a large number of small and medium-scale establishments will be out of the purview of the Act," said Sanjay Wadhavkar from the Hind Mazdoor Sabha. "Larger establishments will also employ four to five sets of 40 contract workers to avoid coming under this law."]
I/II. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mumbai/unions-to-protest-against-new-contract-labour-act-on-friday/articleshow/57173893.cms Unions to protest against new contract labour Act on Friday TNN | Updated: Feb 16, 2017, 12.11 AM IST MUMBAI: Days after TOI reported that the Maharashtra government had amended the Contract Labour (Regulation and Abolition) Act 1970 to substantially reduce establishments and contractors covered by it, trade unions in the state have announced a protest on Friday. "We will protest against the Contract Labour (Regulation and Abolition) Maharashtra Amendment Act 2016 at Azad Maidan. We will hold a rally during the state assembly session on March 9," said Vishwas Utagi, convenor of the state's Trade Union Joint Action Committee. Earlier, the law applied to units with 20 or more workmen. After the amendment in Maharashtra, it will apply to units with 50 or more workmen. As a result, it will no longer apply to smaller units or contracts covering 20-49 workers which once came under its purview. Officials said the move will boost the ease of business and boost employment of informal workers. But the state's Trade Union Joint Action Committee said it will erode workers' rights and it plans to challenge the amendment in court. The contract labour Act regulates working conditions, including the payment of wages on time. It also mandates the provision of holidays, hours of work and conditions of service matching those given by principal employers. It demands the provision of a canteen, rest-room and creche facilities. It also requires contractors to be licensed and establishments employing contract workers to be registered with the government. "There are 18 lakh contract workers in Maharashtra. The changes in this law will mean that employers will deny them statutory benefits like Provident Fund, ESIC, leave and overtime money," said Utagi. Trade unionists said key provisions under the contract labour Act were not being implemented and that the amendment would further reduce the bargaining power of workers. "Even today, the Minimum Wages Act is not implemented," he said. II. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mumbai/maharashtra-government-amends-key-contract-labour-law-trade-unions-upset/articleshow/57117571.cms Maharashtra government amends key contract labour law, trade unions upset Priyanka Kakodkar | TNN | Updated: Feb 13, 2017, 05.10 AM IST MUMBAI: In a major reform of a key labour law, the Maharashtra government has issued a notification amending the Contract Labour (Regulation and Abolition) Act 1970 which will substantially reduce the number of establishments covered by this law in the state. ***Earlier, the law applied to units with 20 or more workmen. After the amendment in Maharashtra, it will apply to units with 50 or more employees. As a result, smaller units or contracts covering between 20 and 49 workers will no longer come under its purview.*** [Emphasis added.] The reform is in keeping with the state's Make in Maharashtra campaign. The new law called the Contract Labour (Regulation and Abolition) Maharashtra Amendment Act 2016 had been passed in the assembly and signed by the governor. The Contract Labour Act regulates working conditions including the payment of wages on time. It also mandates the provision of holidays, hours of work and terms. It demands the provision of canteen, rest-room and creche facilities. It also requires contractors to be licensed and establishments employing contract workers to be registered with the government. Officials say the move will boost ease of business and enhance the employment of informal workers. However, the state's trade union joint action committee says the amendment will erode workers' rights and plans to challenge the amendment in court. ***"As a result of the amendment, a large number of small and medium-scale establishments will be out of the purview of the Act," said Sanjay Wadhavkar from the Hind Mazdoor Sabha. "Larger establishments will also employ four to five sets of 40 contract workers to avoid coming under this law."*** [Emphasis added.] This means employers will avoid providing statutory benefits, including provident fund, the minimum wage and leave to contract workers in smaller units, says Vishwas Utagi, convener of the state's trade union joint action committee. "We hope to challenge the amendment soon in the Bombay high court," he said. The reform of labour laws has been high on the agenda of the Centre's Make in India campaign, with states like BJP-ruled Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh taking the lead. In 2015, Maharashtra amended the Factories Act 1948 to reduce the number of units coming under its purview. It also introduced self-certification for 16 labour laws, including the Maternity Benefits Act 1961 and Child Labour Act, 1986. -- Peace Is Doable -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Green Youth Movement" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. To post to this group, send an email to [email protected]. Visit this group at https://groups.google.com/group/greenyouth. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
