(a)whether the Government has allowed the Food Corporation of India (FCI) to hire contractual workers;
(b)if so, the details thereof;
(c)whether this matter was referred to the Central Advisory Contract Labour Board (CACLB);
(d)if so, the details thereof; and
(e)the recommendations made by the CACLB in this regard and the follow-up action taken by the Government thereon?
MINISTER OF STATE(IC) FOR LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
(SHRI BANDARU DATTATREYA)
(a) & (b): Yes, the Central Government vide Notification No. S.O. 2327(E) dated 06.07.2016 published in the Gazette of India has exempted 226 godowns, depots and railheads of the Food Corporation of India from the applicability of notifications of the Government of India in respect of employment of contract labour in different jobs for a period of two years, with effect from the date of publication of the notification in the Official Gazette, and subject to compliance of the conditions specified under sub-clause (a) of clause (v) of sub-rule (2) of rule 25 of the Contract Labour (Regulation and Abolition) Central Rules 1971.
(c) to (e): Yes, the matter was last referred to the Central Advisory Contract Labour Board(CACLB) and the Board recommended not to grant exemption under Section 31 of the Contract Labour (Regulation & Abolition) Act, 1970.
Contd..2/-
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However, the Central Government in view of the prevailing conditions including drought and drought like conditions requiring urgent movement of food grains and also in view of the observations of the Hon’ble High Court of Bombay (Nagpur Bench) in PIL No. 84 of 2014, decided to grant exemption under Section 31 of the Contract Labour (Regulation & Abolition) Act, 1970 for a period of two years subject to the conditions mentioned in reply to part (a) & (b) of the question as above.
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