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REGISTERED NO. D. (D)-72

The Gazette of India

EXTRAORDINARY

PART II—Section 2

PUBLISHED BY AUTHORITY

No. 28] NEW DELHI, THURSDAY, APRIL 26,1979/VATSAKHA 6, 1901

Separate paging is given to this Part in order that it may be filed

as a separate compilation

LOK SABHA

The following Bill was introduced in Lok Sabha on the 26th April, 1979: —

BILL NO. 57 OF 1979 A BUI to regulate the employment of inter-State migrant workmen and to provide for their conditions of service and for mutters connected therewith.

BE it enacted by Parliament in the Thirtieth Year of the Republic of India as follows: —

CHAPTER I

PRELIMINARY

1. (1) This Act may be called the Inter-State Migrant Workmen (Regu- lation of Employment and Conditions of Service) Act, 1979.

(2) It extends to the whole of India. (3) It shall come into force on such date as the Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, appoint:

Short title, ex- tent, com- mence- ment and applica- tion.

Provided that if the Central Government considers it necessary or expedient so to do in the public interest, it may postpone or relax, to such extent as may be specified in such notification, the operation of all or any of the provisions of this Act in any State or States for such period not extending beyond one year from the date on which this Act comes into force.

(4) It applies—

(a) to every establishment in which five or more inter-State migrant workmen (whether or not in addition to other workmen) are employed or who were employed on any day of the preceding twelve months;

(443)

ft)) to every contractor who employs or who employed five or

more inter-State migrant workmen (whether or not in addition to • other workmen) on any day of the preceding twelve months.

2. (1) In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires,—

Defini- tions.

(a; "appropriate Uovernmenr means,—

(1) in relation, to—

(1) any establishment pertaining to any industry carried on by or under the authority of the Central Government or pertaining to any such controlled industry as may be specified in this behalf by the Central Government; or

(2) any establishment of any railway, Cantonment Board, .

major port, mine or oil-field; or

(3) any establishment of a banking or. insurance company,

the Central Government;

(ii) in relation to any othe;- establishment the Government

of the State in which that other establishment is situated; (b) "contractor", in relation to an establishment, means a person who undertakes (whether as an independent contractor, agent, em- ployee or otherwise) to produce a given result for the establishment, other than a mere supply of goods or articles of manufacture to such establishment, by the employment of workmen or to supply workmen to the establishment, and includes a sub-contractor, Khatadar, Sardarf agent or any other person, by whatever name called, who recruits or employs workmen;

(c) "controlled industry" means any industry the control of which by the Union has been declared by any Central Act to be expedient in the public interest;

(d) "establishment" means—

(i) any office or department of the Government or a local

authority; or

(ii) any place where any industry, trade, business, manufac-

ture or occupation is carried on;

(e) "inter-State migrant workman" means any person who is recruited by or through a contractor in one State under an agreement or other arrangement for employment in an establishment in another State, whether with or without the knowledge of the principal em- ployer in relation to such establishment;

(f) "prescribed" means prescribed by rules made under this Act; (g) "principal employer" means,—

(i) in relation to any office or department of the Government or a local authority, the head of that office, department or autho- rity or such other officer as the Government or the local autho- rity, as the case may be, may specify in this behalf;

(ii) in relation to a factory, the owner or occupier of the factory and where a person has been named as the manager of the factory under the Factories Act, 1948, the person so- named; 63 of 194- i'

(Hi) in relation to a mine, the owner or agent of the mine and where a person has been named as the manager of the mine, the person so named:

(iu) in relation to any other establishment, any person res- ponsible for the supervision and control of' the establishment.

35 of 1952.

Explanation.—For the purposes of sub-clause (in) of this clause, the expressions "mine", "owner" and "agent" shall have the meanings respectively assigned to them in clause (j), clause (I) and clause (c) of sub-section (1) of section 2 of the Mines Act, 1952:

(h) "Recruitment" includes entering into any agreement or; other arrangement for recruitment and all its grammatical variations and cognate expressions shall be construed accordingly;

(i) "wages" shall have the meaning assigned to it in clause (vi) of section 2 of the Payment v* Wages Act, 1936;

4 of 1936.

\j) workman means any person employed in or m connection with the work of any establishment to do' any skilled, semi-skilled or unskilled, manual, supervisory, technical or clerical work for hire or reward, whether the terms of employment be express or implied, but does not include any such person—

(£) who is employed mainly in a managerial or administra- tive capacity; or

(it) who, being employed in a supervisory capacity, draws wages exceeding five hundred rupees per mensem, or exercises, either by the nature of the duties attached to the office or by reason of the powers vested in him, functions mainly of a mana- gerial nature.

(2) Any reference in this Act to any law which is not in force in any area shall, in relation to that area, be construed as a reference to the cor- responding law, if any, in force in that area.

CHAPTER II REGISTRATION OF ESTABLISHMENTS EMPLOYING INTER-STATE MIGRANT

WORKMEN

3. The appropriate Government may, by order notified in the Official Gazette,—

Appoint- ment of registering officers.

(") appoint such persons, being officers of Government, as it thinks fit to be registering officers for the purposes of this Chapter; and

(b) define the limits, within which a registering officer shall exercise the powiers conferred on him by or under this Act.

Registra- tion of certain es- tablish- ment*.

4. (2) Every principal employer of an establishment to which this Act applies shall, within such period as the appropriate Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, fix in this behalf with respect to estab- lishments generally or with respect to any class of them, make an appli- cation to the registering officer, in such form and manner and on payment of such fees as may be prescribed, for the registration of the establish- ment:

Provided that the registering officer may entertain any such applica- tion for registration after the expiry of the period fixed in that behalf, if the registering officer is satisfied that the applicant was prevented by sufficient cause from making the application in time.

(2) Within one month after the receipt of an application for registra- tion under sub-section (1), the registering officer shall,—

(a) if the application is complete in all respects, register the

establishment and issue to the principal employer 01 the establish- ment a certificate of registration in the prescribed form; and

(b) if the application is not so complete, return the application

to the principal employer of the establishment.

(3) Where within a period of one month after the receipt of an appli- cation for registration of an establishment under sub-section (1), the re- gistering officer does not grant under clause (a) of sub-section (2) the certificate of registration applied for and does not return the application under clause (b) of that sub-section, the registering officer shall, within fifteen days of the receipt of an application in this behalf, from the prin- cipal employer, register the establishment and issue to the principal em- ployer a certificate of registration in the prescribed form.

Revoca- tion of re- gistration In certain cases.

5. If the registering officer is satisfied, either on a reference made to him in this behalf or otherwise, that the registration of any establishment has been obtained by misrepresentation or suppression of any material fact or that for any other reason, the registration has become useless or ineffective and, therefore, requires to be revoked, the registering officer may, after giving an opportunity to the principal employer of the estab- lishment to be heard and with the previous approval of the appropriate Government, revoke by order in writing the registration and communi- cate the order to the principal employer:

Provided that where the registering officer considers it necessary so to do for any special reasons, he may, pending such revocation, by order suspend the operation of the certificate of registration for such period as may be specified in the order and serve, by registered post, such order along with a statement of the reasons on the principal employer and such order shall take effect on the date on which such service is effected.

6. No principal employer of an establishment to which this. Act applies shall employ inter-State migrant workmen in the establishment unless a certificate of registration in respect of such establishment issued under this Act is m forces

Prohibi- tion against employ- ment of inter- State migrant workmen without registra- lion.

Provided that nothing in this section shall apply to any establishment in respect of which an application for registration made within the period fixed, whether originally or on extension under sub-section (1) of sec- tion 4 is pending before a registering officer and for the purposes of this proviso, an application to which the provisions of sub-section (3) of section 4 apply shall be deemed to be pending before the registering officer concerned till the certificate of registration is issued in accordance with the provisions of that sub-section.

CHAPTER III

LICENSING OF CONTRACTORS

7. The appropriate Government may, by order notified in the

Official Gazette,—

Appoint- ment of licensing officers.

(a) appoint such persons, being officers of Government, as it thinks fit to be licensing officers for the purposes of this Chapter; an SEC. 2] THE GAZETTE OF INDIA EXTRAORDINARY 447

Licensing of con- tractors.

8. (1) With effect from such date as the appropriate Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, appoint, no contractor to whom this Act applies shall,—

(a) recruit any person in a State for the purpose of employing him in any establishment situated in another State, except under and in accordance with a licence issued in that behalf,—

(i) if such establishment is an establishment referred to in sub-clause (i) of clause (a) of sub-section (1) of section 2, by the licensing officer appointed by the Central Government who has jurisdiction in relation to the area wherein the recruitment is made;

(ii) if such establishment is an establishment referred to in sub-clause (ii) of clause (a) of sub-section (1) of section 2, by the licensing officer appointed by the State Government who has jurisdiction in relation to the area wherein the recruit- ment is made; (b) employ as workmen for the execution of any work in any establishment in any State, persons from another State (whether or not in addition to other workmen) except under and in accord- ance with a licence issued in that behalf,—

(i) if such establishment is an establishment referred to in sub-clause (i) of clause (a) of sub-section (1) of section 2, by the licensing officer appointed by the Central Government who has jurisdiction in relation to the area wherein the establish- ment is situated;

(ii) if such establishment is an establishment referred to in sub-clause (ii) of clause (a) of sub-section (I) of section 2, by the licensing officer appointed by the State Government who has jurisdiction in relation to the area wherein the establish- ment is situated,

(2) Subject to the provisions of this Act, a licence under sub-section (1) may contain such conditions including, in particular, the terms and conditions of the agreement or other arrangement under which the workmen will be recruited, the remuneration payable, hours of work, fixation of wages and other essential amenities in respect of the inter- State migrant workmen, as the appropriate Government may deem fit to impose in accordance with the rules, if any, made under section 35 and shall be issued on payment of such fees as may be prescribed:

Provided that if for any special reasons, the licensing officer is satis- fied that it is necessary to require any person who hag applied for, or who has been issued, a licence to furnish any security for the due per- formance of the conditions of the licence, he may, after communicating such reasons to such person and. giving him an opportunity to represent hig case, determine in accordance with the rules made in this behalf the security which shall be furnished by such person for obtaining or, as the ease may be, for continuing to hold the licence.

(3) The security which may be required to be furnished under the proviso to sub-section (2) shall be reasonable and the rules for the pur- poses of. the said proviso shall, on the basis of the number of workmen employed, the wages payable to them, the facilities which shall be affor- ded to them and other relevant factors provide for the norms with re- ference to which such security may be determined.

Grant of licences,

9. (1) Every application for the grant of a licence under sub-section (2) of section 8 shall be made in the prescribed form and shall contain the particulars regarding the location of the establishment, the nature of process, operation or work for which inter-State migrant workmen are to be employed and such other particulars as may be prescribed.

(2) The licensing officer may make such investigation in respect of the application received under sub-section (1) and in making any such investigation, the licensing officer shall follow such procedure as may be prescribed.

(3) A licence granted under section 8, shall be valid for the period specified therein and may be renewed from time to time for such period and on payment 'of such fees and on such conditions as may be prescribed.

10. (1) If the licensing officer is satisfied, either on a reference made to him in this behalf or otherwise, that—

(uf a iiuejiue grtunea unuer aeuuon o nas ueen ouiamea Dy misrepresentation or suppression of any material fact, or

Revoca- tion, sus- pension and amend- ment of licences.

(bi) the holder of a licence has, without reasonable cause, failed to comply with the conditions subject to which the licence has been granted or has contravened any of the provisions of this Act or the rules made thereunder,

then, without prejudice to any ojher penalty to which the holder of the licence may be liable under this Act, the licensing officer may, after giving the holder of the licence an opportunity to be heard, by order in writing, revoke the licence or forfeit the security furnished by him under the proviso to sub-section (2) of section 8 or any part thereof and communicate the order to the holder of the licence:

Provided that where the licensing officer considers it necessary so to do for any special reasons, he may, pending such revocation or forfeiture, by order, suspend the operation of the licence for such period as may be specified! in the order and serve, by registered post, such order along with a statement of the reasons on the holder of the licence and such order shall take effect on the date on which such service is effected.

(2) Subject to any rules that may be made in this behalf, the licensing officer may vary or amend a licence granted under section 8.

Appeal. 11. (1) Any person aggrieved by an order made under section 4, section 5, section 8 or section 10 may, within thirty days from the date on which the order is communicated to him, prefer an appeal to an appellate officer who shall be a person nominated in this behalf by the appropriate Gove/nment:

Provided that the appellate officer may entertain the appeal after the expiry of the said period of thirty days, if he is satisfied that the appellant was prevented by sufficient cause from filing the appeal in time,

(2) On receipt of an appeal under sub-section (1), the appellate officer shall, after giving the appellant an opportunity of being heard, dispose of the appeal as expeditiously as possible.

CHAPTER IV

DUTIES AND OBLIGATIONS or CONTRACTORS

ll (1) It shall be the duty of every contractor—

Duties of contrac- tors.

(a) to furnish such particulars and In such form as may be prescribed, to the specified authority in the State from which an

inter-State migrant workman is recruited and in the State in which such workman is employed, within fifteen days from the data of recruitment, or, as the case may be, the date of employment, and where any change occurs in any of the particulars so furnished, such change shall be notified to the specified authorities of both the States;

(b) to issue to every inter-State migrant workman, a pass book affixed with a passport size photograph of the workman and indi- cating in Hindi and English languages, and where the language of the workman is not Hindi or English, also in the language of the workman,—

(i) the name and. place of the establishment wherein the workman is employed;

(ii) the period of employment; (Hi) the proposed rates and modes of payment of wages; (iv) the displacement allowance payable; (v) the return fare payable to the workman on the expiry of the period of his employment and in such contingencies as may be prescribed and in such other contingencies as may be specified in the contract of employment;

(ui) deductions made; and

(vii) such other particulars as niay be prescribed;

(c> to furnish in respect of every inter-State migrant workman who ceases to be employed, a return in such form and in such manner as may be prescribed, to the specified authority in the State from which he is recruited and in the State in which he is employed, which shall include a declaration that all the wages and other due3 payable to the workman and the fare for the return journey back to his State have been paid.

(2) The contractor shall maintain the pass book referred to in sub* section (1) up-to-date and cause it to be retained with the inter-State migrant workman concerned.

Explanation.—For the purposes of this section and section 16 "speci- fied authority" means such authority as may be specified by the appro- priate Government in this behalf.

CHAPTER V

WAGES, WELFARE AND OTHER FACILITIES TO BE PROVIDED TO INTER-STATE

MIGRANT WORKMEN

13. (1) The wage rates, holidays, hours of work and other conditions of service of an inter-State migrant workman shall,—

(a) in a case where such workman performs in any establish- ment, the Game or similar kind of work as is being performed by any other workman in that establishment, be the same as those applicable to such other workman; and

(b) in any other case, be such as may be prescribed by the appropriate Government:

Wage rates and other conditions of ser- vice of inter- state migrant workmen.

Provided that an inter-State migrant workman shall in no case be paid less than the wages fixed under the Minimum Wages Act, 1948.

11 of 1948.

(2) Notwithstanding anything contained in any other, law for the time b"ing in force, wages payable to an inter-State migrant workman under this section shall be paid in cash.

Displace-

ment

allo-

wance.

14. (i) There shall be paid by the contractor to every anter-btate migrant workman at the time of recruitment, a displacement allowance equal to fifty per cent, of the monthly wages payable to him or seventy- five rupees, whichever is higher.

(2) The amount paid to a workman as displacement allowance under sub-section (1) shall not be refundable and shall be in addition to the wages or other amounts payable to him.

Journey

allowance,

"tc.

15. A journey allowance of a sum not less than the fare from the place of residence of the inter-State migrant workman in his State to the place of work in the other State shall be payable by the contractor to the workman both for the outward and return journeys and such workman shall be entitled to payment of wages during the period of such journeys as if he were on duty.

Other

facilities.

16. It shall be the duty of every contractor employing inter-State migrant workmen in connection with the work of an establishment to which this Act applies,—

(a) to ensure regular payment of wages to such workmen; (b) to ensure suitable conditions of work to such workmen having regard to the fact that they are required to work in a State different from their own State;

(ic) to provide and maintain suitable residential accommoda-

tion to such workmen during the period of their employment;

(d) to provide the prescribed medical facilities to the workmen,

free of charge;

(e) to provide such protective clothing to the workmen as may

be prescribed; and

(f) in case of fatal accident or serious bodily injury to any such workman, to report to the specified authorities of both the States and also the next of kin of the workman.

17. (1) A contractor shall be responsible for payment of wages to each interstate migrant workman employed by him and such wages shall be paid before the expiry of such period as may be prescribed.

Responsi-

bility

for

payment

ut wages,

(2) Every principal employer shall nominate a representative duly authorised by him to be present at the time of disbursement of wages by the contractor and it shall be the duty of such representative to certify the amounts paid as wages in such manner as may be prescribed. (3) It shall be the duty of the contractor to ensure the disburse- ment of wages in the presence of the authorised representative of the principal employer.

(4) In case the contractor fails to make payment of wages within the prescribed period or makes short payment, then the principal em- ployer shall be liable to make payment of the wages In full or the unpaid balance due, as the case may be, to the inter-State migrant work- man employed by the contractor and recover the amount so paid from the contractor either by deduction from any amount payable to the contractor under any contract or as a debt payable by the contractor.

Liability of princi- pal em- ployer in certain eases.

18. (I) If any allowance required to be paid under section 14 or section 15 to an inter-State migrant workman employed in an establish- ment to which this Act applies is not paid by the contractor or if any facility specified in section 16 is not provided for the benefit of such workman, such allowance shall be paid, or, as the case may be, the facility shall be provided, by the principal employer within such time as may be prescribed.

{£) All the allowances paid by the principal employer or all the expenses incurred by him in providing the facility referred to in sub- section (1) may be recovered by him from the contractor either by de- duction from any amount payable to the contractor under any contract or as a debt payable bv the contractor.

Past lia- bilities.

19. It shall be the duty of every contractor and every principal em- ployer to ensure that any loan given by such contractor or principal em- ployer to any inter-State migrant workman does not remain outstanding after the completion of the period of employment of such workman under the said contractor or, as the case may be, in the establishment of such principal employer and accordingly every obligation of an inter-State migrant workman to re-pay any debt obtained by him during the period of his employment from the contractor or the principal employer and remaining unsatisfied before the completion of such period shall, on such completion, be deemed to have been extinguished and no suit or other proceeding shall lie in any court or before any authority for the recovery of such debt or any part thereof.

CHAPTER VT

INSPECTING STAFF

Inspec- tors.

20. (1) The appropriate Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, appoint such persons as it thinks fit to be inspectors for the pur- poses of this Act, and define the local limits within which they shall exercise their powers under 'this Act.

(2) Subject to any rules made in this behalf, within the local limits for which he is appointed an inspector may—

(a) if he has reason to believe that any inter-State migrant work- men are employed in any premises or r>lace, enter, at all reasonable hours, with such assistants Cif any}, being persons in the service of the Government or any local or other public authority as he thinks fit, such premises or place for the purpose of—

(i) satisfying himself whether the provisions of this Act in relation to the payment of wages, conditions of service, or facilities to be provided to such workmen are being complied with;

(ii) examining any register or record or notices required to be kept or exhibited by the provisions of this Act or the rules made thereunder, and requiring the production thereof for inspection: (b) examine anv person found in any such premises or place for the purpose of determining whether such person is an inter- State migrant workman;

(e) require any person giving out work to any workman, to give any information, which is in his power to °;ive, with respect to the names and addresses of the persons to, for and from whom the work is given out or received, and with respect to the payments to be made for the work;

(d) seize or take copies of such register, record of wages, or notice* 9T portion* thereof as he may consider relevant In respect

of an offence under this Act which he has reason to believe has been committed by a principal employer or contractor; and

(c) exercise such other powers as may be prescribed.

(3) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-sections (1) and (2), if a State Government considers it necessary for the purpose of satisfying itself that the provisions of this Act are being complied with in respect of any workmen belonging to that State and employed In an establishment situated in another State, it may, by order in writing, appoint such pers'ons, being persons in the service of that Government, for the exercise of such of the powers mentioned in sub-section (2), as may be specified in that order:

Provided that no such order shall be issued without the concurrence of the Government of the State in which such workmen are employed or where the establishment is an establishment referred to in sub- clause (i) of. clause (a) of sub-section (1) of section 2, without the concurrence of the Central Government.

45 of 1860.

(4) Any person required to produce any document or thing, qr to give any information required, by an inspector under sub-section (2), or by a person appointed under sub-section (3), shall be deemed to be legally bound to do so within the meaning of section 175 and section 176 of the Indian Penal Code.

2 of 1974.

(5) The provisions of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, shall, so

far as may be, apply to any search or seizure under this section as they aPPly to any search or seizure made under the authority of a warrant issued under section 94 of the said Code.

CHAPTER VII

MISCELLANEOUS

21. For the purposes of the enactments specified in the Schedule, an inter-State migrant workman shall, on and from the date of his recruit- ment, be deemed to be employed and actually worked in the establish- ment or, as the case may be, the first establishment in connection with the work of which he is employed.

Inter-State migrant workmen to be dee- med to be In employ- ment from date of recruit- ment for the pur- poses of certain enact- ments.

'14 of 1947. 22, (1) Notwithstanding anything contained in the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947, any dispute or difference In connection with the employment or non-employment or the terms of employment or the conditions of labour, of an Inter-State migrant workman (hereafter in this section refer- rrvt to jaa thf industrial rtiflrnite^. mav.—

(a) if the industrial dispute is relatable to an establishment refer-

Provi- sions re- garding industrial disputes in rela- tion to inter- State migrant workmen.

red to In sub-clause (i) of clause (a) of sub-section (1) of section 2, be referred under the¹ provisions of the said Act, by the Central Govern- ment to any of the authorities referred to in Chapter II of that Act (hereafter in this section referred to as the said authorities),— (i) in the State wherein the establishment is situated; or (ii) in the State wherein the recruitment of such workman was made if he makes an application in that behalf to that Gov- ernment on the ground that he has returned to that State after the completion of his employment;

(b) if the industrial dispute is relatable to an establishment ref- erred to in sub-clause (ii) of clause (a) of sub-section (1) of section 2-

(i) be referred under the provisions of the said Act, by the Government of the State wherein the establishment is situated, to any of the said authorities in that State; or

(ii) be referred under the provisions of the said Act, by the Government of the State wherein the recruitment of such work- man was made to any of the said authorities in that State, if he makes an application in that behalf to that Government on the ground that he has returned to that State after the com- pletion of his employment:

Provided that—

(a) no application referred to in sub-clause (ii) of clause (a) or sub-clause (ii) of clause (b) shall be entertained after the expiry of a period of six months from the date of his return to the State wherein the recruitment was made after the completion of his employment, unless the Government concerned is satisfied that the applicant was prevented by sufficient cause from making the appli- cation within that period;

(b) no reference under the said sub-clause (ii) of clause (b) shall be made except after obtaining the concurrence of the Govern- ment of the State wherein the establishment concerned is situated.

1947.

(2) Without prejudice to the provisions of section 33B of the Indus- trial Disputes Act, 1947, where during the pendency of any proceeding in respect of an industrial dispute under that Art before any of the said authorities in the State wherein the establishment is situated, an appli- cation is made to that authority by an inter-State migrant workman for the transfer of such proceeding to a corresponding authority in the State wherein his recruitment was made on the ground that he has returned to that State after the completion of his employment, that authority shall forward the application to the Central Government, or, as the case may be, to the Government of the State wherein such recruitment was made and transfer such proceeding in the prescribed manner to such authority as may be specified in this behalf by that Government:

Provided that in a case where no authority has been specified by the Government concerned within the prescribed period, the authority before which the proceeding is pending shall, on a request being made by the inter-State migrant workman and after obtaining the previous approval of the Government which referred the dispute to that authority, forward such proceeding to the Government concerned for reference of such dis- pute to an authority in the State wherein such recruitment was made.

(3) Without prejudice to the provisions of sub-section (2), if the Central Government is satisfied that it is expedient in the interests of justice so to do, it may, by order in writing and for reasons to be stated therein, withdraw any proceeding in respect of any industrial dispute relating to an inter-State migrant workman pending before an authority in the State in which the establishment concerned is situated and transfer the same to such authority in the State wherein the recruitment of such workman was made as may be specified in the order.

(4) The authority to which any proceeding Is Itransferred under this section may proceed either de novo or from the. stage at which it was so transferred.

23* (1) Every principal employer and every contractor shall main- tain such registers and records giving such particulars of the inter-State migrant workmen employed, the nature of work performed by such workmen, the rates of wages paid to the workmen and such other particulars in such form as may be prescribed.

Registers and other records to toe main- tained.

(2) Every principal employer and every contractor shall keep exhi- bited in such manner as may be prescribed within the premises of the establishment where the inter-State migrant workmen are employed, notices in the prescribed form containing particulars about the hours of work, nature of duty and such other information! as may be pres- cribed.

Obstruc- tions.

24. (1) Whoever obstructs an inspector or a person appointed under sub-section (3) of section 20 (hereinafter referred to as the authorised person) in the discharge of his duties under this Act or refuses or wilfully neglects to afford the inspector or authorised person any reasonable facility for making any inspection, examination, inquiry or investigation authorised by or under this Act in relation to an establishment to which, or a contractor to whom, this Act applies, shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to two years, or with fine which may extend to two thousand rupees, or with both.

(2) Whoever wilfully refuses to produce on the demand of any inspec- tor or authorised person any register or other document kept in pursu- ance of this Act or prevents or attempts to prevent or does anything which he has reason to believe is likely to prevent any person from appearing before or being examined by any inspector or authorised person acting in pursuance of his duties under this Act, shall be punishable with Imprison- ment for a term which may extend to two years, or with fine which may extend to two thousand rupees, or with both.

25. Whoever contravenes any provisions of this Act or of any rules made thereunder regulating the employment of inter-State migrant workmen, or contravenes any condition of a licence granted under this Act, shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to one year, or with fine which may extend to one thousand rupees, or with both, and in the case of a continuing contravention, with an addi- tional fine which may extend to one hundred rupees for every day during which such contravention continues after conviction for the first such contravention.

Contra- vention of provi- siona regarding employ- ment of Inter- State migrant workmen.

Other

offences. 26. If any person contravenes any of the provisions of this Act or of any rules made thereunder for which no other penalty is elsewhere pro- vided, he shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to two years, or with fine which may extend to twq thousand

OfCenceg by com- panies.

27.. (1) Where an offence under this Act has been committed by a company, every person who, at the time the offence was committed, was in charge of, and was responsible to, the company for the conduct of the business of the company, as well as the company, shall be deemed to be guilty of the offence and shall be liable to bo prooeaded "gain"t and punished accordingly:

Provided that nothing contained in this sub-section shall render any such person liable to any punishment, if he proves that the offence was committed without his knowledge or that he had exercised all due diligence to prevent the commission of such offence.

(2) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-sedtion (I), where any offence under this Act has been committed by a company and it is proved that the offence has been committed with the consent or conniv- ance of, or is attributable to any neglect on the part of, any director, manager, secretary or other officer of the company, such director, manager, secretary or other officer shall be deemed to be guilty of that offence and shall be liable to be proceeded against and punished accord- ingly.

Explanation.—For the purposes of this section,—

(o) "company" means any body corporate and includes a firm or other association of individuals; and

(b) "director", in relation to a firm, means a partner in the firm.

Cogni- zance of offences.

28. No court shall take cognizance of any offence under this Act except on a complaint made by, or with the previous sanction in writing of, an inspector or authorised person and no court inferior to that of a Metro- politan Magistrate or a Judicial Magistrate of the first class shall try any offence punishable under this Act.

Limita- tion of prose- cutions.

29. No court shall take cognizance of an offence punishable under this Act unless the complaint thereof is made within three months from the date on which the alleged commission of the offence came to the know- ledge of the inspector or authorised person concerned:

Provided that where the offence consists of disobeying a written order made by an inspector or authorised person, complaint thereof may be made within six months of the date on which the offence is alleged to have been committed.

30. (I) The provisions of this Adt shall have effect notwithstanding anything inconsistent therewith contained in any other law or in the terms of any agreement or contract of service, or in any standing orders applicable to the establishment whether made before or after the com- mencement of this Act:

Effect of laws and agree- ments inconsis- tent with the Act. Provided that where under any such law, agreement, contract of service or standing orders, the inter-State migrant workmen employed in the es- tablishmervt are entitled to benefits in respect of any matter which are more favourable to them than those to which they would be entitled under this Act, the inter-State migrant workmen shall continue to be entitled to the more favourable benefits in respect of that matter, not- withstanding that they receive benefits in respect of other matters under this Act.

(2) Nothing contained in this Act shall be construed as precluding any inter-State migrant workmen from entering into an agreement with the principal employer or the contractor, as the case may be, for granting them rights or privileges in respect of any matter which are more favour- able to them than those to which they would be entitled under this Act.

Power to exempt in special cases.

3L The appropriate Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette and subject to such conditions and restrictions, if any, and for such period or periods as may be specified in the notification, direct that all or any of the provisions of this Act or the rules made thereunder shall

not apply to or in relation to any establishment or class of establishments or *ny contractor or class of contractors or any inter-State migrant work- men in such establishment or class of such workmen, if that Government is satisfied that it is just and proper so to do having regard to the methods of recruitment and the conditions of employment in such establishment or class of establishments and all other relevant circumstances.

32. (1) No suit, prosecution or other legal proceedings shall lie against any registering officer, licensing officer or any other employee of the Gov- ernment for anything which is in good faith done or intended to be done in pursuance of this Act or any rule or order made thereunder.

Protec- tion of action taken under the Act.

(2) .No suit or other legal proceedings shall lie against tne liovernment for any damage caused or likely to be caused by anything which is in good faith done or intended to be done in pursuance of this Act or any rule or notification or order made or issued thereunder.

33. The Central Government may give directions to Ithe Government of any State as to the carrying into execution in the State of the provi- sions contained in this Act.

Power to give direc- tions. Power to remove diffi- culties.

34. (I) If any difficulty arises in giving effect to the provisions of this Act, the Central Government may, by order published in the Official Gazette, make such provisions not inconsistent with the provisions of this Act, as appears to it to be necessary or expedient for removing the difficulty:

Provided that no such order shall be made after the expiry of two years from the date on which this Act comes into force.

(2) Every order made under this section shall, as soon as may be after it is made, be laid before each House of Parliament.

3& (1) The appropriate Government may, subject to the condition of previous publication, make rules fox carrying out the purposes of this Act.

Power to make rules.

(2) In particular, and without prejudice to the generality of the fore- going powei\ such rules may provide for all or any of the following matters, namely: —

(a) the form and manner in which an application for the registra- tion of an establishment may be made under section 4, the fees pay- able thereon and the form of a certificate of registration issued under that section;

(b) the form in which an application for the grant or renewal of a licence may be made under section 9 and the particulars it may contain;

(c) the manner in which an investigation is to be made In respect of an application for the grant of a licence and the matters to be taken into account in granting or refusing a licence;

(d) the form' of a licence which may be granted or renewed under this Act, the conditions subject rto which the licence may be granted or renewed, the fees payable for the grant or renewal of a licence and the security, if any, required to be furnished for the due per- formance of the conditions of .the licence;

(e) the circumstances under which licences may be varied or amended under section 10;

(f) the form and the manner in which appeals may be filed under section 11 and the procedure to be followed by'appellate officers in disposing of the appeals;

(g) the wage rates, holidays, hours of work and other conditions of service which an inter-State migrant workman is entitled under section 13;

(h) the period within which wages payable to Inter-State migrant workmen should be paid by the contractor under suib-section (I) of section 17 and the manner of certification of such payment under sub-section (2) thereof;

(i) the time within which allowances or facilities required by this Act to be provided and maintained may be so provided by the contractor and hi case of default on the part of the contractor, by the principal employer under section 18;

(3) the powers that may be exercised by inspectors under section 20;

(Jc) the form of registers and records to be maintained, and the particulars and information to be contained in notices to be exhibited, by the principal employers and contractors under section 23;

(1) the manner of submission of returns, and the forms hi which, and the authorities to which, such returns may be submitted;

(m) legal aid to inter-State migrant workmen; (n) any other matter which is required to be, or may be, prescribed under this Act. (3) Every rule made by the Central Government under this Act shall be laid, as soon as may be after it is made, before each House of Parliament while it is in session for a total period of thirty days which may be com- prised in one session or in two, or more successive sessions and if, before the expiry of the session Immediately following the session or the successive sessions aforesaid, both Houses agree in making any modification in the rule or both Houses agree that the rule should not be made, the rule shall thereafter have effect only in such modified form or be of no effect, as the case may be; so, however, that any such modification or annulment shall be without prejudice to the validity of anything previously done under that rule.

OrlMa Act 42 of 1975.

Repeals and sav- ing.

36. (1) The Qrissa Dadan Labour (Control and Regulation) Act, 1975 and any law corresponding to this Act, in force in any State, shall stand repealed.

(2) Notwithstanding such repeal, anything done or any action taken under the provisions of the Act or law so repealed shall, in so far as such thing or action is not inconsistent with the provisions of this, Act, foe deem- ed to have been done or taken under the provision of this Act as if the said provisions were in force when such thing was done or such action was taken and shall continue to be in force accordingly until superseded by anything done or any action taken under this Act.

THE SCHEDULE

(See section 9,T\

8 of 1923.

4 of 1936,

14 of 1947.

34 of 194*.

ID of l"ffi.

1. The Workmen's Compensation Act, 1923. 2. The Payment of Wages Act, 1936. 3. The Industrial Disputes Act, 1947. 4. The Employees' State Insurance. Act, 1948. 5. The Employees' Provident Funds and Miscellaneous Provisions Act SB of 1W1.

1992.

6. The Maternity Benefit Act, 1961.

STATEMENT OF OBJECTS AND REASONS

The system of employment of inter-State migrant labour (known in Orissa as Dadan Labour) is an exploitative system prevalent in Orissa and in some other States. In Orissa, Dadan Labour is recruited from various parts of the State through contractors or agents called Sardars/ Khatadars for work outside the State in large construction projects. This system lends itself to various abuses. Though the Sardars promise at the time of recruitment that wages calculated on piece-rate basis would be settled every month, the promise is not usually kept. Once the worker comes under the clutches of the contractor, he takes him to a far-off place on payment of railway fare only. No working hours are fixed for these workers and they have to work on all the days in a week under extremely bad working conditions. The provisions of the various labour laws are not being observed in their case and they are subjected to various malpractices.

2. The Twenty-eighth Session of the Labour Ministers' Conference (New Delhi, October 2C, 1976) whkh considered the question of protec- tion and welfaie of Dadan Labour recommended the setting up of a small Compact Committee to go into the whole question and to suggest measures for eliminating the abuses prevalent in this system. The inter- State migrant workmen are generally illiterate, unorganised and have normally to work under extremely adverse conditions and in view of these hardships, some administrative and legislative arrangements both in the State from where they are recruited and also in the State where they are engaged for work are necessary to secure effective protection against their exploitation. The Compact Committee which was consti- tuted in February, 1977, therefore, recommended the enactment of a separate Central legislation to regulate the employment of inter-State migrant workmen as it was felt that the provisions of the Contract Labour (Regulation and Abolition) Act, 1970, even after necessary amendments would not adequately take care of the variety of malpractices indulged in by the contractors/Sardars/K/witadars, etc., and the facilities required to be provided to these workmen in view of the peculiar circumstances in which they have to work.

3. The recommendations of the Compact Committee have been exa- mined in consultation with the State Governments and the Ministries of the Government of India and the suggestions made by; them have been taken into account in formulating the proposals for legislation. The main feature:; of the Bill are as follows:—

(i) The proposed legislation will apply to every establishment in which five or more inter-State migrant workmen are employed or were employed on any day of the preceding twelve months. It will also apply to every contractor who employs or employed five or more inter-State migrant workmen on any day of the preceding twelve months.

(ii) The establishment proposing to employ inter-State migrant workmen will be required to be registered with registering officers appointed under the Central Government or the State Governments, as the case may be, depending on whether the establishment falls under the Central sphere or State sphere. Likewise, every contractor who proposes to recruit or employ inter-State migrant workmen will be required to obtain a licence from the specified authority both of

the State to which the workman belongs (hoine State) and the State in which he is proposed to be employed (host State).

(in) The contractor will be required to furnish particulars re- garding the workmen in the form to be prescribed by rules to the specified authority of both the home State and the host State. The contractor will also be required to issue to every workman employed by him, a pass book containing the details of the employment

(iu) Specific guidelines have been Indicated regarding the wages payable to inter-State migrant workman and he Is required to be paid wages from the date of his recruitment.

(u) The imer-State migrant workman will be entitled to a dis- placement allowance and a journey allowance in addition to his wages.

(vi) The amenities that are required to be provided to the workmen wpuld include provision of suitable residential accommoda- tion, adequate medical facilities, protective clothing to suit varying climatic conditions and suitable conditions of work taking Into account that they have migrated from another State.

(tm) Inspectors v/ill be appointed by the appropriate Govern- ment to see that the provisions oi the legislation are being complied with. Tn addition, power has been given to the State Government of the home State to appoint, after consultation with the Govern- ment of the host State, inspectors for visiting the establishments wherein workmen from the former State are employed to see whe- ther the provisions of the legislation are being complied with in the case of such workmen.

(uiii) The inter-State migrant workman may raise an industrial dispute arising out o$ his employment either in the host State or in the home State after his return to that State after the completion of the contract of employment. He will also'be permitted to apply for the transfer of proceedings in relation to an industrial dispute pending before an authority in the host State to the corresponding authority in the home State on the ground that he has returned to that State after the completion of his contract.

(ix) Deterrent punishments have been proposed for the con- travention of the provisions of the legislation.

NEW DEUH; RAVINDRA VARMA.

The 1st March, 1979.

PRESIDENT'S RECOMMENDATION UNDER ARTICLE 117 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA

[Copy of letter No. S-16025(20) /77-LW, dated the 3rd March, 1979 from Shri Ravindra Varma, Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Labour to the Secretary, Lok Sabha.]

The President, having been informed of the subject matter of the proposed Inter-State Migrant Workmen (Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Service) Bill, 1979, recommends the consideraton of the Bill under article 117 (3) of the Constitution by Lok Sabhba.

FINANCIAL MEMORANDUM

Clause 3 of the Bill enables the appropriate Government to appoint officers of Government to be registering officers for the purpose of exer- cising the powers conferred on registering officers under the provisions of the Bill. Clause 7 of. the Sill empowers the appropriate Government to appoint officers of Government to be licensing officers for the purpose of exercising the jurisdiction and powers conferred on licensing officers under the provisions of the Bill. Under the above provisions, the ex- penditure towards the appointment of registering officers in relation to establishments in respect of which the Central Government is the appro- priate Government and the expenditure towards the appointment of registering officers in the Union territories of Delhi, the Andaman and NIcobar Islands, Chandigarh, Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Lakshadweep in relation to establishments in respect of which the State Government is the appropriate Government will be met from out of the Consolidated Fund of India. Likewise, the expenditure towards the appointment of licensing officers in relation to Central establishments in the whole of India and in relation to establishments in the State sphere In the said Union territories will be met from out of the Consolidated Fund of India, Clause 20 enables the appropriate Government to appoint inspectors for the purposes of the Bill. Clause 35(2) (m) of the Bill enables the appro- priate Government to make rules to provide legal aid to inter-State migrant workmen.

2. It is proposed to entrust the Central industrial relations machinery with the powers and functions of the registering officers, licensing officers and inspectors under the provisions of the Bill in relation to establish- ments in respect of which the Central Government is the appropriate Government. It is estimated that the additional work that may devolve on the office of the Chief Labour Commissioner (Central) will involve a recurring expenditure of about Rs. 1,31,000 per annum. The total non-recurring expenditure likely to be incurred will be about Rs. 33,000. In relation to establishments in the State sphere in the said Union terri- tories, the powers and functions of registering officers, licensing officers and inspectors under the provisions of the Bill will be entrusted to the existing enforcement machinery in those Union territories and no addi- tional expenditure is likely to be incurred on this account. The expendi- ture which may be incurred with respect to leg'al aid to inter-State migrant workmen under the rules which may be made in this behalf will depend upon the type of aid which may be provided for in such rules, the number of inter-State migrant workmen employed from time to time in Central establishments all over India and establishments In the States' spheres in the said Union territories and other circumstances which it is not possible to visualise at this stage. In view thereof, It is not possible to estimate the expenditure that is likely to be incurred on this account with any degree of accuracy.

3. The provisions of this Bill do not involve any other expenditure of

a recurring or non-recurring nature.

MEMORANDUM REGARDING DELEGATED LEGISLATION

Clause 35 of the Bill empowers the appropriate Government to make rules for carrying out the purposes of the Bill. Sub-clause (2) of that clause specifies the matters in respect of which rules may be made under this clause. These include, among other things, the form and manner in which an application for the registration of an establishment may be made for the employment of inter-State migrant workmen, the form in which an application may be made for the grant or renewal of a licence by a contractor before he recruits or employs inter-State migrant work- men, the period within which wages payable to inter-State migrant workmen should be paid by the contractor, the time within which allowances or facilities required by the provisions of the Bill to be pro- vided and maintained may be so provided by the contractor, the powers that may be exercised by inspectors, the form of registers and records to be,maintained by the principal employers and contractors, the manner of submission of returns to the authorities under the provisions of the Bill and the provision of legal aid to inter-State migrant workmen.

2. The mailers with respect to which rules may be made are matters of administrative procedure or detail and it may not be possible to provide for them in the Bill itself. The "'delegation of the legislative power is, therefore, of a normal character.

AVTAR SINGH RIKHY,

Secretary.

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