Maharashtra Mandates Canteens and Crèche Facilities in Factories: New Labor Code Approved
Mumbai, 31st May 2023: Maharashtra has made it mandatory for factories employing more than 100 workers to have canteens, and factories with more than 50 workers to provide crèche facilities for women workers, as per the newly approved rules of the fourth labor code. The state cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, gave its nod to the Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions of Workers Code 2020 in a meeting on Tuesday.
The Indian government consolidated 29 labor acts into four labor codes, with the fourth code now receiving approval. Under the new rules, factories with more than 100 workers must have canteens, while those with over 50 workers need to establish creche facilities. Additionally, factories employing more than 250 workers are required to appoint a welfare officer.
Earlier, the state cabinet had already approved rules for the Wage Code, Industrial Relations Code, and Social Security Code, completing the implementation of three codes.
In 1999, the Indian government formed the Second Labor Commission, headed by former Union Labor Minister Rivdra Verma, which recommended the consolidation of 29 labor laws into four labor codes. Subsequently, the Central Government prepared these four labor codes, aiming to ensure uniform implementation across all states. As labor falls under the Concurrent List, the Central Government took the initiative to consolidate the laws.
However, each state is required to pass rules for the implementation of the respective codes. Thus, the Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code Act, 2020, was promulgated by the Central Government, empowering states to frame their own occupational safety, health, and working condition codes. In line with this, the state cabinet approved the code for Maharashtra.
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