'Make in Maharashtra': State panel to suggest changes in Labour laws

MUMBAI: In order to give a boost to its 'Make in Maharashtra' and ' Digital India' campaigns, the state government has decided to constitute a six-member committee to amend and simplify labour laws to expedite industrial development.

The panel, to be headed by state labour commissioner, includes development commissioner (Industries), additional secretary of labour, additional secretary of law and judiciary department, deputy labour commissioner A L Lakaswar (Nagpur) and deputy labour commissioner (administration).

The committee has been asked to submit its report within a month.

"On the lines of 'Make in India' initiative of the Central government, the state has adopted 'Make in Maharashtra' and 'Digital India' missions in the state. To support this mission, there is a need to make amendments in labour Acts and rules to make them simple," a Labour Department official said.

Explaining the functioning of the committee, the official said, "the committee will take stock of existing labour Acts and rules and will suggest the recommendation on how to simplify them."

According to a Government Resolution (GR) issued recently, the committee will look into legislations like Industrial Disputes Act (1947), Factories Act, Contract Labour Act (1970), Industry Act 1948 (related with registration and licenses), Maharashtra Shops and Establishment Act (1948), Payment of Wages Act (1936), Maharashtra Labour Welfare Fund Act (1953), Maharashtra Recognition of Trade Unions and Prevention of Unfair Labour Practices Act (1971) to name a few.

Other laws the panel will look into are Maharashtra Industrial Relations Act (1946), Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act (1986).

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had on Friday said the state government would work on the reforms proposed by the previous government, which failed to take-off.

"For now, we are only working on (labour) which the previous government had suggested but did not implement. If we only succeed in doing this much, we will succeed in doing a lot of good work for the state," he said.