In this blog, we will discuss the various labour laws in Karnataka.
Introduction
Labour laws in Karnataka regulate the functioning of establishments in Karnataka. There are various acts covering topics such as minimum wages, industrial relations, social security, working conditions of labour, trade practice and others. These have been enacted to improve the working conditions of employer and employee, ensure compliance with safety & security and protect the interest of trade practices.
Below there, we will see the details of labour law compliance in Karnataka.
Labour laws and applicability in Karnataka
If your business exists in karnataka or you are going to start a business with operations in Karnataka, then you need to comply with the norms of Karnataka labour laws.
1. Labour laws on Industrial Relations
a. Industrial Disputes Act, 1947 –
This act makes the provision for investigation and settlement of disputes.
b. Industrial Employment Standing Orders Central Rules 1946 –
Under this act, employers need to define the condition of employment under them and to make the conditions known to workmen employed by them. And it is applicable for industrial establishments where 50 or more employees are employed.
c.The Trade Unions ACT, 1926 –
This act provides for the registration of trade unions and defines certain laws related to Trade unions.
d. Karnataka Trade Unions- 1958 –
2. Labour laws on Minimum wages
a. Equal Remunertaion Act, 1976–
This act provides equal remunerations for female and male workers. And prevent discrimination against women in the matter of employment and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.
b. The Karnataka Subsistence Allowance Act, 1988 –
Under this act, an employee who is placed under suspension during their suspension is entitled to get the payment from the employer as a subsistence allowance. And that amount will be equal to 50% of the wages, which the employee needs to draw immediately before their suspension, for the first ninety days reckoned from the date of such suspension.
c. The Minimum Wages Act, 1948 –
Under this act, the rate of minimum wages has been fixed for particular occupations. Karnataka Government enacted the minimum wages rules for monitoring the wages.
To know more details about the entire state, click on the rate of minimum wages.
It is applied to the schedule of employment that wages are revised and fixed, here is the provision to pay fixed hours of work, overtime, and others.
d. Payment Of Wages Act, 1936 –
This act regulates the wages of certain classes of employed persons. This act prevents unauthorised deductions or injustices in the payment of wages.
This act provides the payment of bonus to the employed person in certain establishments based on profits, production or productivity and others. To get the more details Click on the Payment of Bonus Act.
3. Labour laws on Social Security
a. Building and Construction Workers Act, 1996 –
Under this act regulates the employment and condition of service of buildings and construction workers and provides their safety, health and welfare.
This act provides the levy and collection of a cess of construction incurred by the employers aims to increase the resources of the Building and Other Construction Workers Welfare Boards.
b. Karnataka Labour Welfare Fund Act, 1965
This act has provided for the constitution of funds for financial activities to promote labour welfare in the state.
This act applies to unskilled, skilled, manual or clerical workers. And also for the motor omnibus service, factories, and plantation workers.
c. Maternity Benefit Act, 1961
An act regulates women’s employment in certain establishments for a specific time period of pre and post-birth of the child, and it provides maternity benefits with other benefits. Know more about Maternity benefit act click here.
As per the rule, no employer knowingly can order a woman employee to work after delivering a child and, also women can’t work in any organisation while 6 weeks of immediate delivery or miscarriage.
d. Payment of Gratuity Act, 1972
This Act provides for a scheme for the payment of gratuity to the employees who all are engaged in factories, mines, oilfields, plantations, ports, railway companies, shops or other establishments and others. To get the more details Click on the Payment of Gratuity
e. The Unorganised Workers Social Security Act, 2008
An act provides the social security and welfare of unorganised workers and for others.
4. Labour laws on Working Conditions
a. Beedi and Cigar workers (conditions of Employment) Act, 1966
This act is to provide for the welfare of the workers in beedi and cigar establishments and to regulate the conditions of their work and others.
b. Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act, 1986
Under this Act, prohibits the engagement of children in certain organisations and regulates the working conditions in certain occupations.
C. Child Labour (Karnataka) Rules 1997_compressed –
c. Contract Labour (Regulation and Abolition) Act, 1970
This act regulates the employment of contract labour in certain establishments and to provide for its abolition in certain circumstances and others.
d. Inter-State Migrant Workmen (Regulation of Employment and conditions of service), Act, 1979
e. Karnataka Industrial Establishments (National & festival holidays) Act, 1969
This Act provides for the grant of national and festival holidays to employed persons in industrial establishments in the State. Under this act the minimum number of holidays has been provided as per the amended Sec. 3.
f. Karnataka Shops & Commercial Establishments Act, 1961
This act has been made for the purpose of protecting the rights of employees. And regulates the payment of wages, terms of services, working hours, intervals, overtime work, and other benefits.
Some other Acts applicable are:
- Karnataka Shops & Commercial Establishments Act, 1961
- Motor Transport Workers (Karnataka) Rules 1964
- Plantations Labour Act, 1951
- Plantations Labour (Karnataka) Rules 1956
- Sales Promotion Employees Act, 1976
- Working Journalists & Other Newspaper Employees (condition of services) & Miscellaneous Provisions Act, 1955
This brings us to the end of our discussion on Labour laws in Karnataka. Let us know if you have any other questions and opinions on this topic. Mention the comment box below.