Latest news with #ContractLabour(RegulationandAbolition)Act
Indian Express
3 days ago
- Health
- Indian Express
No strikes at PGI, Chandigarh, high court reiterates
The Punjab and Haryana High Court on Thursday disposed of a petition challenging protests by employee unions at the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh, while reiterating that no union would be allowed to obstruct patient care or disrupt the functioning of the hospital. A division bench comprising Chief Justice Sheel Nagu and Justice Sanjiv Berry clarified that the unions 'shall not enter the premises of the PGI' in a manner that causes 'obstruction to the movement of the patients or the employees or officers'. The bench was hearing a batch of petitions, including CWP No. 162 of 2024 and CWP No. 24 of 2024, which had challenged protests, strikes and alleged service disruptions at the premier medical institution. '162 is being disposed. 24 is the same,' the bench noted, indicating that both were being considered together. During the hearing, counsel for the Union of India, Additional Solicitor General Satya Pal Jain, informed the court that issues relating to the validity of the central government notifications—central to the dispute—were currently under conciliation proceedings before the labour commissioner (central). The court recorded that the labour commissioner 'is about to decide' the matter and noted that further hearings would depend on the outcome of those proceedings. 'As regards the validity of the notifications… the same will be taken up after the Labour Commissioner submits [a decision], or if it fails to take up the issue, the court will hear it in the month of September,' the bench stated. The dispute stems from strikes by central government hospital employees against recent changes in service conditions, following the lapse of certain central notifications. However, the high court made it clear that any demonstration or protest or strike that affects medical services at PGIMER will not be permitted. The bench added that the challenge to the notification 'shall be taken up after the Labour Commissioner submits [a decision], or if the LC fails to do so, the same shall be taken up in the month of September'. The issue traces back to the expiry of an exemption granted to PGIMER under the Contract Labour (Regulation and Abolition) Act, 1970. Through a 2014 notification, the Ministry of Labour and Employment had prohibited the use of contract labour in sanitation, security, and catering services at PGIMER, acting on the advice of the Central Advisory Contract Labour Board (CACLB). PGIMER, however, subsequently sought and obtained exemptions under Section 31 of the Act. These were conditional upon the institute paying contract workers wages and benefits on par with the lowest-paid regular employees. These exemptions were renewed periodically—in 2018, 2020, and 2023—but the latest exemption expired on January 12, 2024. The institute applied for an extension, citing its continued need for contractual staff. However, the CACLB deferred a decision during its July 2024 meeting, as the matter was pending before the high court. According to minutes of a November 5, 2024, meeting placed on record in court, PGIMER stated it had cleared wage arrears for contract workers in compliance with the exemption conditions up to January 13, 2024. Officials from the ministries of Labour and Health, as well as PGIMER, acknowledged that under Rule 25(2)(v)(a) of the Contract Labour Rules, contract workers performing similar duties must be granted the same wages and working conditions as regular employees. In an interim order dated November 22, 2024, the high court had issued a writ of prohibition, restraining all PGIMER employees—regular or contractual—from striking during the pendency of conciliation proceedings. It had also directed the deputy chief labour commissioner (central), who is presiding over the conciliation process, to endeavour to conclude it within two months. The court further clarified that a strike would not be permitted after the conciliation ends—if adverse to the employees—without explicit permission from the court. With Wednesday's order, the court has formally disposed of petitions relating to the protest and obstruction of medical services. However, the broader question involving the validity of the central notifications remains pending, subject to the outcome of the ongoing conciliation process.
Time of India
25-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
HC upholds gratuity benefits for contract workers at Air India facility
Hyderabad: In a significant victory for contract workers, the Telangana high court has upheld the orders directing Air India to pay gratuity benefits to 13 workers engaged through a contractor at its central training establishment in Ferozguda, Secunderabad. A division bench comprising Justices Challa Kodanda Ram and Nagesh Bheemapaka dismissed a batch of writ petitions filed by Air India challenging the rulings of the Controlling Authority and the Appellate Authority under the Payment of Gratuity Act . Both authorities had held Air India liable as a 'model employer' for the workers engaged in its facility. Air India contended that the workers were employed under a works contract through a third-party firm—MKR Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Works—and not through a manpower supply arrangement, and hence were not eligible for gratuity benefits. The airline sought to quash the 2018 orders of the Appellate Authority. You Can Also Check: Hyderabad AQI | Weather in Hyderabad | Bank Holidays in Hyderabad | Public Holidays in Hyderabad The workers had filed claims asserting that, although formally employed by the contractor, their services were rendered exclusively for Air India, thereby entitling them to gratuity under the Act. Air India, however, argued that it had merely awarded a time-bound contract to the contractor, with no direct employer-employee relationship with the workers. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Brandi Passante's Is So Thin Now & Looks Like A Model. Lawyers Favorite Undo The airline maintained that it only had a limited supervisory role as per the Contract Labour (Regulation and Abolition) Act and bore no obligation to extend gratuity or other service benefits. Rejecting this contention, the high court emphasised that Air India, as a public sector undertaking, is expected to uphold constitutional values, including the dignity of labour. The court held that gratuity, being a social welfare benefit, should not be denied on technical grounds, particularly when the workers had rendered long and continuous service at the establishment. Accordingly, the court upheld the authorities' findings and dismissed Air India's petitions, directing the airline to pay the gratuity dues to the 13 contract workers.
Hindustan Times
26-06-2025
- Business
- Hindustan Times
New labour reforms in the offing: Chandigarh seeks to improve business environment
In a major initiative to enhance the ease of doing business, the Chandigarh administration has proposed a series of transformative labour reforms, aligned with the vision of the Union ministry of labour and employment. These reforms aim to position Chandigarh as a competitive industrial and commercial hub by simplifying regulatory processes while safeguarding worker welfare. The Chandigarh administration aims to establish the city as a benchmark of industrial efficiency and inclusive growth in North India. (HT File) The proposals have been submitted to the Union ministry of home affairs under Section 87 of the Punjab Reorganisation Act, 1966. Inspired by progressive models adopted in Punjab and Haryana, the amendments seek to streamline compliance procedures, reduce regulatory burdens, and foster a more business-friendly ecosystem. Among the proposed reforms are: Factories Act, 1948 (Haryana Amendment Extension); Raises the applicability threshold from 10 to 20 workers (with power) and from 20 to 40 (without power), increases the quarterly overtime limit from 75 to 125 hours, introduces compounding of minor offences to avoid prolonged legal proceedings, allows women to work night shifts with enhanced safety measures. Contract Labour (Regulation and Abolition) Act, 1970 (Punjab Amendment Extension): Increases the threshold from 20 to 50 workers, easing compliance for small and medium enterprises (SMEs), Industrial Disputes Act, 1947 (Punjab Amendment Extension) and raises the threshold from 100 to 300 workers. Amends the definition of 'public utility service' to include all industrial establishments, ensuring smooth operations. The department, in its communication, stated that these reforms are expected to reduce compliance costs, improve operational flexibility, promote workforce diversity, and attract higher investments. The Chandigarh administration aims to establish the city as a benchmark of industrial efficiency and inclusive growth in North India. The department also noted that several key reforms have already been implemented, including fixed term employment, women in night shifts, and the adoption of a compliance-first approach, all designed to foster a cooperative and progressive industrial environment.
Time of India
03-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Govt approves amendment to 3 labour laws, restructure revenue dept
Bhopal: The state cabinet on Tuesday approved the restructuring of the offices of the principal revenue commissioner and the commissioner of land records besides amendments of three labour laws to suit industries. The cabinet meeting was held at Pachmarhi to commemorate the valour and sacrifice of Raja Bhabhut Singh, the tribal ruler who stood and fought against the British empire to safeguard 'jal, jungle and jameen' (water, forest and land). The cabinet also cleared the proposal for transfer of the Pawarkheda Composite Logistics Hub Project, currently being implemented by M/s Kesar Multimodal Logistics Ltd to M/s DP World Multimodal Logistics Pvt Ltd. It also cleared the setting up of the "agritech hub / innovation hub for agriculture" at Indore. According to the state govt, the offices of the principal revenue commissioner and the commissioner of land records would be restructured to meet modern day needs. The restructured body will be called the office of the commissioner, land resource management, with a main and an auxiliary headquarters. Under the new structure, the positions of superintendent and assistant superintendent of land records will be aligned with those of tehsildar and naib tehsildar respectively. The additional tehsildars and naib tehsildars will be assigned judicial and non-judicial duties such as protocol, law and order and surveys. Having a dedicated tehsildar for judicial functions will facilitate daily proceedings in revenue courts, leading to faster disposal of revenue-related cases, said an official press release. To simplify procedures and reduce compliance burden on small and medium industries, the cabinet has approved amendments of three labour laws including Contract Labour (Regulation and Abolition) Act, 1970, The Factories Act, 1948 and Industrial Disputes Act, 1947. The Madhya Pradesh State Electronics Development Corporation (MPSEDC) under the department of science & technology will be the State's implementing partner for "agritech hub / innovation hub for agriculture" at Indore. A sum of Rs 2 crore will be provided to IIT Indore during the financial year 2025-26 for the establishment of this hub. The project supported by the ministry of electronics and IT, GoI, with an approved cost of Rs.14.98 crore will be implemented by IIT Indore in collaboration with ICAR-IISR Indore, ICAR-CIAE Bhopal and C-DAC Pune. One of the key objectives of the agritech hub is the establishment of a Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Agriculture at IIT Indore. This centre will launch 46 advanced agritech programmes, support 40 innovations, file 25 patents, incubate 8 startups and facilitate 10 technology transfers and licensing agreements through startups. In addition, the hub will accelerate the development of genomics and phenomics for improved crop traits, precision agriculture and drone-based imaging, emerging technologies for seed quality testing and high-performance computing, big data analytics, and machine learning for advanced agricultural research and productivity enhancement.
Hindustan Times
31-05-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Chandigarh: Need more time to go through report by CACLB committee, says PGI in review plea
After the Central Advisory Contract Labour Board (CACLB) passed a resolution abolishing 12 categories of contractual posts last year at the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), the institute has claimed that it never received a copy of committee's report on which basis the resolution was passed. In a review petition filed by it, PGIMER has now sought more time to go through the CACLB committee report. At present, more than 1,000 workers are working at the institute on contractual basis under these 12 categories, including data entry operators, receptionists, lab attendants, lift operators, etc. The CACLB committee, in its report on July 9, 2024, had recommended regular recruitment in place of these contractual posts. Based on this, CACLB had passed a resolution on July 30, 2024, to abolish these 12 categories of contractual posts as per the Contract Labour (Regulation and Abolition) Act, 1970. Before the Union ministry of labour and employment could notify board's resolution in gazette, PGIMER filed a review petition against the CACLB resolution in October 2024. The second hearing of this review petition took place on Friday at the 106th meeting of CACLB held in Noida. At this hearing, PGIMER claimed that it had not received a copy of the report and needed more time to go through it. Board chairman Surendra Kumar Pandey, while granting more time, asked the PGIMER administration to furnish in writing that it did not receive the copy of the committee report. The next date of hearing is yet to be announced. On behalf of PGIMER, Ashok Kumar, Ranjit Singh Bhogal, Sanjeev Dhiman, Ameena Singh, Sanjeev Vimal and Pawan Kumar attended the hearing while from PGIMER Employees' Association (Non-Faculty) Ashwani Kumar Munjal remained present.
