Latest news with #PunjabFactoryRules
Time of India
09-08-2025
- Business
- Time of India
UT administration proposes reforms for factory licenses, women employment
Chandigarh: Factories in Chandigarh will soon be required to renew their licences for five years at a time, and licences will be granted within seven days, instead of the current 30-day timeline. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Additionally, women will be permitted to work in all occupations in the city. These are some of the reform measures the Chandigarh Administration recently took up with the ministry of home affairs (MHA). The UT has submitted a proposal to the MHA to amend Rule 10 of the Punjab Factory Rules, 1952, allowing the renewal of licences for five years at a time. Further, the proposal has been sent to the Department of Personnel, Chandigarh Administration, for the revision of the timeline under the Right to Service (RTS) from 30 days to seven days for the grant of a new licence under the Factories Act, 1948. Deputy commissioner Nishant Kumar Yadav said, "The services of registration of shops and commercial establishments in Chandigarh are being provided online through a single form. Further, the requirement of renewal for registration under the Shops & Establishment Act has already been eliminated. Simplifying approval and renewal of factory licences/trade licences by reducing the steps involved in documentation, and online registration under the Shops & Establishments Act has also been initiated. " Another proposal for raising the threshold for compliance under the Shops & Establishments Act to 20 workers has also been taken up with the MHA. Currently, the threshold limit is zero for compliance under the Shops & Establishments Act. Increasing the threshold will encourage MSMEs by reducing the compliance burden on them. As per recent Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) data, 4.4% of non-agricultural establishments in India employ between 10 to 19 people. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Raising the applicability threshold to 20 workers would reduce per-worker costs for these enterprises. Yadav said, "A proposal has been sent to the MHA to amend Section 1(4) of the Punjab Shops and Commercial Establishments Act, 1958, to raise the threshold limit for compliance under the act from 0 to 10 workers. " The administration has also proposed to remove prohibitions on women from working in certain 'hazardous' industries. "The administration has submitted a proposal to the MHA to amend Rule 102 of the Punjab Factory Rules, 1952, to permit women (except pregnant and lactating mothers) to work in hazardous industries," said Yadav. Further, revising limits on work hours for commercial establishments has also been recommended. A proposal has been sent to the MHA to amend Sections 7(1), 7(2)(a), and 8(2) of the Punjab Shops & Commercial Establishments Act, 1958 (as applicable to Chandigarh), so that the working hour limits for commercial establishments may be revised in UT, Chandigarh. Yadav said, "The administration has already implemented several reforms to support the industry and business community. Fixed-term employment offers businesses flexibility in workforce management, enabling them to adapt swiftly to market demands. Women in night shifts have been allowed with robust safety measures, promoting gender inclusivity and expanding the talent pool for industries. Also, compliance notice before prosecution introduces a compliance-first approach, reducing litigation risks and fostering a cooperative regulatory environment. " MSID:: 123207045 413 |
Time of India
21-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Push to ease-of-doing biz: Pb nod to self-certification of factory plans; Okays validity period for fire-safety certificates
Chandigarh: The Punjab Cabinet on Saturday approved changes to bring in ease-of-doing business, okaying amendments to Punjab Factory Rules, 1952, and laws meant for labour welfare. It also okayed several other changes. The cabinet approved amendments to Rule 2A, Rule 3A, Rule 4, and Rule 102 of the Punjab Factory Rules, 1952, to simplify processes under the ease-of-doing business initiative. The amendments will allow self-certification of factory plans by civil, structural, or mechanical engineers with at least five years of experience—or a master's degree with two years of experience—subject to departmental verification. Similarly, structural stability certificates can now be issued by qualified engineers on the same conditions. Additionally, women will now be permitted to work in the manufacturing of pottery and ceramics, as well as in the vegetable oil extraction process—activities that were previously restricted. The cabinet also gave its consent to amend the Punjab Labour Welfare Fund Act, 1965, as several provisions of the Act were no longer aligned with present-day needs. The revised provisions aim to make the fund more progressive and realistic, ensuring better protection and welfare for labourers and enabling them to live with dignity. Recognising that the existing Punjab Financial Rules Volumes I and II, framed in 1984, are outdated, the cabinet approved their updating. Numerous amendments and instructions have been issued since then by the finance department. The revised rules will incorporate these changes to ensure clarity and avoid legal disputes or confusion. The cabinet aslso apoproved framing of Punjab Fire and Emergency Services (Validity of Fire Safety Certificate) Rules, 2025. These rules will allow the state govt to prescribe a validity period for fire-safety certificates for buildings and premises through official notifications.
