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Labour Legislations
Notes empowered to seize or take copies of relevant registers, record of wages or notices, etc. He
may also exercise such other powers as may be prescribed for carrying out the purposes of
the Act.
3 Exemption: According to Section 31 of the Act, the appropriate Government may in the
case of an emergency, direct by notification in the Official Gazette that subject to such
conditions and restrictions, if any, and for such period or periods as may be specified in the
notification, all or any of the provisions of this Act or the rules made thereunder shall not
apply to any establishment or class of establishment or class of contractors.
Advisory Boards
The Central Government under Section 3 is required to set up the Central Advisory Contract
Labour Board on matters relating to administration of the Act as may be referred to it. It shall
also discharge such other functions as may be assigned to it under the Act. The Central Board
shall consist of (i) a Chairman to be appointed by the Central Government; (ii) the Chief Labour
Commissioner (Central), ex offi cio; (iii) such number of members, not exceeding 17 but not less than
11, as the Central Government, the Railways, the coal industry, the contractors, the workmen and
any other interests which, in the opinion of the Central Government, ought to be represented on
the Central Board. The number of persons to be appointed as members from each of the specifi ed
categories, the term of office and other conditions of service of the procedure to be followed in the
discharge of their functions by, and the manner of filling vacancies among, the members of the
Central Board shall be such, as may be prescribed. However, the number of members nominated
to represent the workmen shall not be less than the number of members nominated to represent
the principal employers and the contractors.
Similarly, the State Government is also required to set up Boards to advise the State Government
on matters relating to administration of the Act. The State Board shall consist of, (i) a Chairman to
be appointed by the State Government; (ii) the Labour Commissioner, ex offi cio, or in his absence
any other officer nominated by the State Government in that behalf; and (iii) such number
of members, not exceeding 11 but not less than 9, as the State Government may nominate to
represent that Government, the industry, the contractors, the workmen and any other interests
which, in the opinion of the State Government, ought to be represented on the State Board. [(See
Gammon India Ltd. vs. Union, (1974) ISCC. 596)]
The Central Board or the State Board may also constitute committees. The Committee constituted
under sub-section (1) shall meet at such times and places and shall observe such rules or
procedures regarding the transaction of business at its meetings as may be prescribed. The
members of the Committee shall be paid such fees and allowances for attending its meetings
as may be prescribed. However, no fees shall be payable to a member who is an officer of the
Government or of any corporation established by any law for the time being in force.
Prohibition of Employment of Contract Labour
Section 10(1) empowers the appropriate Government (after consultation with the Central Board
or State Board, as the case may be) to prohibit, by notification in the Official Gazette, employment
of contract labour in any process operation or other work in any establishment. However, under
Section 10(2), before issuing any notification in relation to any establishment, the appropriate
Government is required to take into account, the conditions of work and benefits provided for
contract labour in that establishment and other relevant factors, such as (i) whether the process,
operation or other work is incidental to, or necessary for the industry, trade, business, manufacture
or occupation that is carried on in the establishment; (ii) whether it is of perennial nature, that is to
say, it is of sufficient duration, having regard to the nature of industry, trade, business, manufacture
or occupation carried on in that establishment; (iii) whether it is done ordinarily through regular
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