Committee go into question of abolition of the contract labour in Rail Coach Factory Kapurthala

## Report on the Constitution of a Committee Regarding Contract Labour at Rail Coach Factory, Kapurthala **1. Executive Summary:** This report analyzes a new government resolution (No. U23013142006L.WB), dated June 17, 2025, concerning the establishment of a committee to investigate the potential abolition of contract labor at the Rail Coach Factory (RCF), Kapurthala, Punjab. The core purpose of the resolution is to assess the working of the contract labour system in the manufacturing process of railway passenger coaches and to make recommendations on whether or not its employment should be prohibited, keeping in view of the provisions of Section 10 of the Contract Labour Regulation and Abolition Act, 1970. The key finding is the formation of a committee with specified members and terms of reference, signaling a formal inquiry into the feasibility of abolishing contract labor at the RCF Kapurthala. **2. Introduction:** The purpose of this report is to provide an informative overview and analysis of the government resolution No. U23013142006L.WB, focusing on the constitution of a committee to review the use of contract labor at the Rail Coach Factory, Kapurthala, as detailed in the provided text. **3. Policy Overview:** * **Core Objective(s):** The core objective, as stated in the text, is to empower a committee to investigate the current system of contract labor within the RCF Kapurthala and to recommend whether the employment of contract labour in the manufacturing process of various types of Railway Passenger Coaches should be prohibited, keeping in view of the provision of Section 10 of contract Regulation Abolition Act, 1970. **4. Background and Rationale:** * **New Policy:** This is a new policy. The policy likely addresses concerns regarding the labor practices at the Rail Coach Factory, Kapurthala, potentially stemming from union advocacy as stated in the committee's terms of reference. The resolution indicates a government response to examine the potential for abolishing contract labor, implying dissatisfaction or perceived issues with the current system. This may include issues related to worker rights, working conditions, or wage disparities between contract and permanent employees. **5. Key Provisions / Changes:** * **New Policy:** The resolution establishes the following: * **Committee Formation:** It constitutes a committee to study the contract labor situation at RCF Kapurthala. * **Committee Composition:** It defines the composition of the committee, listing the names and affiliations of the Chairman (Shri Surendra Kumar Pandey), Members (Shri Jayant S. Deshpande, Shri B.K. Bhatia, Shri Mukesh Mathur) and Member Convener (Deputy Chief Labour Commissioner Central Chandigarh). * **Terms of Reference:** It outlines the committee's terms of reference, which includes: * Studying the working of the contract labor system in the jobworks of manufacturing process of various type of Railway passenger Coaches in the establishment of RCF, Kapurthala, for which abolition of contract laobur system has been sought by the union. * Recommending whether or not the employment of contract labor in the manufacturing process of various type of Railway Passenger Coaches at RCF Kapurthala should be prohibited, considering Section 10 of the Contract Labour Regulation and Abolition Act, 1970. * **Headquarters:** It specifies that the headquarters of the Committee will be at Chandigarh. * **Timeline:** It sets a deadline of two months for the committee to submit its report. **6. Target Audience and Stakeholders:** Based on the text, the directly affected parties and stakeholders include: * **Rail Coach Factory (RCF), Kapurthala:** The establishment whose labor practices are under scrutiny. * **Contract Laborers at RCF Kapurthala:** Their employment status is directly impacted by the potential abolition of contract labor. * **RCF Management:** The factory's management will need to adjust their labor practices based on the committee's recommendations and subsequent government decisions. * **Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh, Federation of Indian Mineral Industries FIMI, and North Western Railway Employees Union NWREU**: The affiliations of the committee members imply their respective constituencies have a vested interest. * **Ministry of Labour and Employment:** As the issuing authority, the ministry is responsible for overseeing the implementation of the recommendations. **7. Implementation Aspects (Inferred):** * **Responsible agency/bodies:** The Central Advisory Contract Labour Board is responsible for constituting the committee. The committee itself is responsible for conducting the study and submitting the report. The Ministry of Labour and Employment is responsible for reviewing the report and implementing any subsequent decisions. * **Timelines or procedures:** The committee is required to submit its report within two months of the resolution date (June 17, 2025). No other specific procedures are outlined in the provided text. **8. Expected Outcomes / Impact of Changes:** * **New Policy:** The likely intended outcomes are: * A thorough assessment of the contract labor system at RCF Kapurthala. * A well-informed recommendation on whether or not contract labor should be abolished in the manufacturing process of Railway passenger coaches. * Potentially, a shift in labor practices at RCF Kapurthala based on the committee's recommendations and the government's subsequent decision. This could involve the abolition of contract labor and the hiring of permanent employees, or modifications to the existing contract labor system. **9. Conclusion:** The resolution regarding the constitution of a committee to examine contract labor at the Rail Coach Factory, Kapurthala, represents a significant step towards potentially altering labor practices within the organization. The committee's report will be instrumental in determining the future of contract labor at RCF Kapurthala and potentially setting a precedent for other similar establishments. The resolution indicates a commitment to reviewing labor practices and ensuring compliance with the Contract Labour Regulation and Abolition Act, 1970.

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