Apart from the regulatory measures provided under the Act for the benefit of contract labour, the 'appropriate government' under Section 10(1) of the Act is authorized, after consultation with the Central Board or State Board, as the case may be, to prohibit, by notification in the official gazette, the employment of contract labour in any establishment in any process, operation, or other work.
Guidelines for Abolition of Contract Labour
Sub-section (2) of Section 10 lays down sufficient guidelines for deciding upon the abolition of contract labour in any process, operation, or other work in any establishment. The guidelines are mandatory in nature and include the following conditions:
- Conditions of work and benefits provided to the contract labour.
- Whether the work is of a perennial nature.
- Whether the work is incidental or necessary for the work of an establishment.
- Whether the work is sufficient to employ a considerable number of whole-time workmen.
- Whether the work is being done ordinarily through regular workmen in that establishment or a similar establishment.
The Central Government, on the recommendations of the Central Advisory Contract Labour Board, has prohibited the employment of contract labour in various operations/categories of jobs in different establishments. So far, 48 notifications have been issued since the inception of the Act.