The Chief Minister's Office of Maharashtra announced on Monday, 13 July 2026 that Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis chaired a high-level meeting at Varsha residence, Mumbai, to deliberate on amendments to two key state labour statutes — the Maharashtra Mathadi, Hamal and Other Manual Workers (Regulation of Employment and Welfare) Act, 1969 and the Maharashtra Private Security Guards (Regulation of Employment and Welfare) Act, 1981.

What the Meeting Decided

CM Fadnavis directed officials to prioritise broad kaamgarhit (workers' welfare) in every proposed amendment. He instructed that while aligning state rules with central labour codes, any modifications necessary to protect state interests should also be incorporated. The Chief Minister emphasised that every clause of the proposed changes must be scrutinised carefully before being finalised.

On judicial arrangements, Fadnavis noted that the provision of Chief Judicial Magistrates (CJMs) has been introduced in place of dedicated labour courts. He directed that a district-wise report of pending labour-related cases before CJMs be prepared, and that care be taken to ensure CJMs are not overburdened with the additional caseload arising from labour disputes.

Context

India consolidated 29 central labour laws into four labour codes — covering wages, industrial relations, social security, and occupational safety — passed between 2019 and 2020. States are required to frame their own rules under these codes, making alignment of legacy state statutes a pressing administrative task. Maharashtra's two Acts under review date back to 1969 and 1981 respectively, and have not seen comprehensive revision to match the new central framework.

The amendments are also being aligned with the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, which replaced the Indian Penal Code, requiring corresponding updates to penal provisions referenced in older labour statutes.

Policy Backdrop

A significant operational concern flagged at the meeting was the problem of dual membership in welfare boards. Fadnavis directed that construction-sector workers should be enrolled in either the Construction Workers Welfare Board or the Mathadi Board — not both — to eliminate duplication of benefits and administrative overlap.

On unorganised sector coverage, the Chief Minister instructed that sector-specific welfare schemes be formulated for each category of worker under the new central codes. He specifically named domestic workers as a category that must be included in these schemes, signalling an intent to extend formal welfare cover to one of the most vulnerable and historically excluded segments of the workforce.

Stakeholders and Impact

Mathadi workers, hamals, private security guards, and domestic workers across Maharashtra stand to be directly affected by the proposed amendments. The Mathadi Act alone covers a large number of unorganised manual labourers engaged in loading, unloading, and carrying work across markets, warehouses, and construction sites in the state.

The meeting was attended by Minister Akash Fundkar, Minister of State Adv. Ashish Jaiswal, and senior officials from the Labour Department.

What's Next

CM Fadnavis directed that the amendment proposals be placed before the state cabinet for approval. Simultaneously, district-wise reporting by Chief Judicial Magistrates on pending labour cases is to be initiated. Officials have also been tasked with fact-based verification of each proposed provision before a final decision is taken. The outcome of the cabinet deliberation will determine the legislative timeline for updating Maharashtra's labour welfare architecture.