Maharashtra Assembly Approves Bill for Mathadi Worker Regulation

Synopsis

The Maharashtra Assembly has approved a Bill to amend the Maharashtra Mathadi, Hamal, and Manual Workers Act, 1969, to regulate Mathadi workers, eliminate fraudulent practices, and prohibit child labor under 18. The Bill aims to enhance worker welfare and establish an Advisory Committee for better administration.

Key Takeaways

The Bill focuses on regulating Mathadi, hamal, and manual workers.
It aims to eliminate fake Mathadi workers drawing salaries without working.
An Advisory Committee will oversee the administration of the Act.
The age limit for child labor in scheduled employment is raised from 14 to 18 years.
Mechanisms for proper utilization of workers will be established to reduce unemployment.

Mumbai, March 21 (NationPress) The Maharashtra Assembly has successfully passed a Bill aimed at revising the Maharashtra Mathadi, Hamal and other Manual Workers (Regulation of Employment and Welfare) Act, 1969.

This legislation seeks to ensure proper regulation of Mathadi, hamal, and manual workers while eliminating fraudulent and illegitimate Mathadi workers from employment. Measures will be enacted against Mathadi workers who fail to attend work yet continue to receive their salaries.

The Bill was introduced by Labour Minister Akash Phundkar.

Among key changes, the government has redefined “manual work” and adjusted the definition of “unprotected worker” within the Bill.

According to the Bill, “Manual work refers to any form of physical labor performed by individuals without any mechanical assistance, encompassing activities such as manual loading, unloading, stacking, carrying, weighing, and measuring within scheduled employments.”

The proposed legislation includes the formation of an Advisory Committee to provide guidance on matters related to the Act’s administration. This committee will comprise representatives from employers, workers, state legislators, and members from the state government.

Additionally, the Bill prohibits the employment of children under the age of 18 in any scheduled employment, raising the age limit for child labor from 14 to 18 years.

Furthermore, the legislation aims to regulate the employment of unprotected manual workers in specific sectors and ensure adequate supply and full unionization of these workers.

Establishment of Boards for the effective utilization of workers is also proposed to help prevent unnecessary unemployment.

Earlier, the Treasury Bench encountered significant embarrassment when opposition members, including Nana Patole, Jayant Patil, and Jitendra Awhad, drew the presiding officer's attention to a lack of quorum in the Assembly, emphasizing the necessity of quorum for proceedings. Patil urged the presiding officer, Yogesh Sagar, to signal for the required quorum.

However, after a brief wait, senior BJP minister Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil acknowledged the importance of maintaining a quorum but noted that many legislators had left to catch their trains on Friday. He requested the opposition to cooperate in passing the Bill.

Another BJP minister, Ashish Shelar, also appealed for opposition support in advancing the Bill.

Nonetheless, Awhad remarked that both ruling and opposition parties are essential, but the ruling alliance has not provided adequate representation for the opposition in the Assembly, which he deemed unacceptable.

Patole stated that since the formation of the government, the ruling alliance has diminished the role of the opposition, leading to ridicule and neglect. He further pointed out that the ruling alliance tends to dominate when attention motions are accepted for discussion.

Both Patole and Awhad insisted that the ruling alliance needs to ensure that the opposition receives proper recognition moving forward. Ultimately, they agreed to the treasury bench's request and supported the Bill's passage.