Is Hiring from Mathadi Group Mandatory for Pharma Companies in Navi Mumbai?

We are a pharmaceutical company based in Navi Mumbai. We are engaged in the sales and marketing of pharmaceutical products. I wanted to know whether the Mathadi Act is applicable to pharmaceutical companies. We have our own contract workers who are used for loading and unloading materials. So, is it necessary to hire from the Mathadi group? Mathadi representatives are insisting that we take people from their group for loading and unloading. Kindly respond on an urgent basis.

Thanks.

Hey guys, please respond to the above query regarding the applicability of the Mathadi Act to a pharmaceutical company.

While the Mathadi Act does state that workers are covered from the truck to stacking and from the edge of the factory to the truck, if the workers are only involved in transportation, they will fall under the Mathadi Act. However, if the workers are involved in repacking, then they will not be covered. It is important to clearly understand the job functions of the workers.

Dear Shwe06, Your old thread has come to my attention now. The Mathadi Act is applicable to you. Please refer to entry 5 to the Schedule under section 2(9) of the Maharashtra Mathadi, Hamal, and other Manual Workers (Regulation of Employment and Welfare) Act, 1969, which is given below verbatim:

"5. Employment in markets, and factories and other establishments, in connection with loading, unloading, stacking, weighing, measuring, filing, stitching, sorting, cleaning or such other work including work preparatory or incidental to such operations carried on by workers not covered by any other entries in this Schedule."

Please share with us your experience handling this issue over the past 6-7 months.

Regards