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Our Bureau

Mumbai , March 15

THE Maharashtra Government proposes to amend the Factory Act to remove certain provisions that have been hampering investment in the State.

The Chief Minister, Mr Vilasrao Deshmukh, said here on Tuesday that a committee has already been set up to make the necessary amendments. The State Government is working with the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) to this effect.

"Under the Factory Act, the role of factory inspectors and auditors would be reconsidered. We are in consultation with the Central Government," Mr Deshmukh said.

Speaking at the Maharashtra Annual Day function here, Mr Deshmukh said the State Factory Act is around 50 years old and it needs to be amended to suit the present needs of the industry.

There are provisions in the Act that do not need any legislative intervention and these can be amended through a State Government notification, Mr Naushad Forbes, CEO of Forbes Marshall, said.

"For instance, the provision that requires women workers to be provided transportation from their work place after 6 p.m. is counterproductive for the target group the law had set out to protect in the first place. Such rules need to be amended," Mr Forbes said.

The Maharashtra Chief Secretary, Mr Prem Kumar, said the proposed amendments are now with the Labour Department. "We are looking for a cue from the Government of India by way of the SEZ Act," he added.

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