Punjab Cabinet okays amendments to inter-state migrant workers rules to avail additional central borrowing of 2pc of GSDP

Chandigarh: In a bid to improve ease of doing business in the state and fulfil the a condition imposed by Central Government for obtaining additional borrowing of 2% of GSDP, the Punjab Cabinet on Wednesday gave approval for amending Rule 14 and insertion of new Rule 53A in the Inter-State Migrant Workers (Regulation of Employment & Condition of Service) Punjab Rules, 1983.
 
Acceding to the demands raised by the industrialists at various platforms, the Cabinet, led by Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh, decided to insert Rule 53A in the Inter-State Migrant Workers (Regulation of Employment & Condition of Service) Punjab Rules, 1983, to allow maintaining different prescribed registers in electronic/digital format to reduce the compliance burden of the industries. 
 
This investor-friendly initiative would encourage the digitalisation of records besides helping to maintain transparency and easy access to records, thereby not only complying with the requirements of Government of India but also attracting huge investments through ensuring conducive environment in the state.
 
Notably, instructions relating to additional borrowing of 2% of GSDP were received from Ministry of Finance (Department of Expenditure), GoI, on May 17, 2020 in which certain conditions were imposed for obtaining additional 2% borrowing. One of the conditions was to have automatic renewals under the Labour Laws. At present, there is no provision of auto renewal of license under the Inter-State Migrant Workers (Regulation of Employment & Condition of Service) Punjab Rules, 1983. Hence, there was need to amend the aforementioned rules to facilitate the industries with provision of auto renewal, the Cabinet felt.
 
 CABINET GIVES NOD TO PUNJAB PRISON DEVELOPMENT BOARD RULES, 2020
 
The Cabinet also gave the nod to the Punjab Prisons Development Board Rules, 2020, under the Punjab Prisons Development Board Act, 2020 (Punjab Act No. 10 of 2020), for carrying out the objectives of the Board in order to ensure its day-to-day functioning in a smooth manner.
 
Punjab Prisons Board Act, 2020 (Punjab Act No. 10 of 2020) had been notified on April 17, 2020 on the lines of Telangana, and was aimed at adopting a self-sustaining model for enhancing prison-based economic activities for productive engagement of prison inmates. The purpose is also to generate resources for undertaking various correctional and welfare activities towards psychological reformation and skilling, thus reducing the burden on the State Exchequer.
 
Notably, the Punjab Prisons Development Board had been constituted under the chairmanship of the Chief Minister through a notification on September 8, 2020.
 
 
20% INCREASE IN FIXED REMUNERATION OF OSDs (LITIGATION) APPROVED
In another decision, the Cabinet also approved the increase in the fixed remuneration/retainership fees payable to OSDs (Litigation), working in different departments, to the tune of 20 percent from Rs. 50,000 to Rs. 60,000.
 
Pertinently, 11 temporary posts of OSD (Litigation) had been created in the Punjab Civil Secretariat in the office of Chief Secretary, Departments of General Administration, Home Affairs and Justice, Water Resources, Social Justice, Empowerment and Minorities, Rural Development and Panchayat, Food Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs, Public Works, Water Supply and Sanitation, Health and Family Welfare and Education.
 
Initially, a fixed salary of Rs.35,000 was given to OSD (Litigation). Thereafter, as per the decision taken in the Cabinet meeting on December 5, 2016, the salary of OSD (Litigation) was increased from Rs. 35000 to Rs. 50000 per month. After the year 2016, no increase had been made in this fixed salary/retainership fees.