The Haryana government has amended as many as 18 labour laws to facilitate workers and employers and resolve irritants and practical problems dogging the path of industry during the tenure of present government.

Disclosing this at a Press conference, minister of state for Labour and Employment, Nayab Singh Saini said relaxing Regulation 30 of the Punjab Shops and Commercial Establishments Act, 1958, women employees have been allowed to work in night shifts.

According to the amendments made in the regulations, women employees can now work from 7 p.m. to 6 a.m. provided the employer ensures their safety and safe transportation. This would benefit 439 commercial establishments and 92,718 women employees of the state, he said.

Under the Industrial Disputes Act 1947, the number of employees any industry can employee has been increased from 100 to 300 workers and government permission has been made mandatory for any lay-off and shut-down.

Under the Payment of Wages Act, 1936, the employees were being paid emoluments in cash which would increase the chances of corruption.

Now the wages are directly deposited in their accounts to curb corruption completely, the minister said. Saini said under the Contract Labour Act, 1970, the contractor requires license and registration for 20 or more workers. This limit has now been increased to 50 workers.

To facilitate small industries, the state government has brought reforms in the Factories Act, 1948 by passing an amendment Bill in the state Assembly. As per the amendment, factories employing 20 or less workers with the use of power, and 40 or less workers employed without the use of power, are exempted under this Act. The overtime working hours have been increased from 75 to 150 hours. The proposal has been sent to the President for consent.

Saini said with a view to implementing labour laws for the convenience and smooth working of industrial institutions, shops and commercial establishments, the “Enterprise Promotion Policy -2015–Ease of Doing Business” has been implemented. Besides, Rs 70 lakh has been spent on the care of children of homeless and migrated laborers at rehabilitation centres in Panipat and Yamuna Nagar.