File Photo: Parliament House (Reuters)
The Small Factory Bill, which seeks to exempt units employing less than 40 workers from 14 labour laws, among others, is likely to be tabled in Parliament during the Monsoon Session starting next month.
"The Small Factory (Facilitation and Regulation of Employment Conditions of Services) Bill is expected in the Monsoon session of Parliament," Labour Minister Bandaru Dattatreya told PTI.
The minister said that the bill would be sent for Cabinet approval before the start of Monsoon Session. The session is commencing from July 21.
The Labour Ministry had held tripartite consultations on the Small Factory Bill.
The proposed law would mainly combine provisions of various labour laws applicable to small factories at one place, thus facilitating ease of compliance and reporting.
The minister said that the proposed law would ease operations of small factories thus catalyse employment generation through small manufacturing units without compromising on the basic aspect of provisions of social security, safety and health.
The draft legislation proposes payment of wages through bank account and continuing provisions of social security without dilution.
It also provides for provision of compounding of offences except for the offence resulting in death and serious body injury.
The bill also proposes that very small factories employing not more than five workers would be exempted from the compliance burden relating to working shifts, attendance and late coming, responsibility to issue appointment letters and provisions on unfair labour practices.
Talking about other key bills of the ministry, Mr Dattatreya said, "The Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2012 has already been approved by the Cabinet last month and it can also be moved in Parliament for discussion and passage."
The bill allows children below 14 years of age to work only in family enterprises or entertainment industry with certain conditions while completely banning their employment elsewhere.
The bill allows working of children in family business or in entertainment industry after school hours or in vacations.
The amendments also make it clear that children between 14 and 18 years will also not be allowed to work in hazardous industries.
The minister was hopeful of introduction of comprehensive amendment bill to make changes in Employees' Provident Fund & Miscellaneous Provision Act 1952 which seeks to provide an option to formal sector workers to choose between Employees' Provident Fund Scheme and New Pension Scheme (NPS).