## Summary of Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 1212 Regarding the Inter-State Migrant Workmen (Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Service) Act, 1979
This document summarizes the Indian government's response to Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 1212, addressed to the Minister of Labour and Employment on July 28, 2025, concerning the implementation of the Inter-State Migrant Workmen (Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Service) Act, 1979.
The question raised concerns about the Act's effective implementation nationwide, specifically regarding sensitive installations, contractor registration failures, and record-keeping violations. The query also requested information on government actions to ensure compliance, particularly in installations handling national security and strategic projects, proposed stringent inspections and penalties, and details on reported violations and actions taken in government establishments over the past three years.
The Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Sushri Shobha Karandlaje, acknowledged the importance of the Act in safeguarding migrant workers' interests. The response detailed the Act's provisions, including registration of establishments employing inter-state migrant workers and licensing of contractors. It highlighted provisions for minimum wages, journey allowance, displacement allowance, residential accommodation, medical facilities, and protective clothing for covered workers.
The response noted that the Central Industrial Relations Machinery (CIRM) conducts regular inspections of registered establishments and licensed contractors within the Central Sphere. State Governments are responsible for enforcement within their respective State Spheres.
To improve compliance, the Ministry of Labour and Employment has launched the Shram Suvidha Portal. This portal facilitates online registration, licensing, and return filing for businesses and implements a randomized, risk-based inspection system to reduce subjectivity in law enforcement. The SAMADHAN Portal was also launched to facilitate the filing of industrial disputes, claim cases related to gratuity, minimum wages, payment of wages, equal remuneration, and maternity benefits.
Key Entities Referenced
InterState Migrant Workmen Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Service Act, 1979: A labour law in India enacted to protect the rights and regulate the employment and conditions of service of interstate migrant workers.
SHRI MADDILA GURUMOORTHY: Member of Lok Sabha who raised a question regarding the implementation of the InterState Migrant Workmen Act, 1979.
MINISTER OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT: The government minister responsible for labour and employment policies and their implementation.
SUSHRI SHOBHA KARANDLAJE: Minister of State for Labour and Employment who provided the answer to the Lok Sabha question.
Central Industrial Relations Machinery CIRM: The enforcement authority responsible for conducting regular inspections of registered establishments and licensed contractors in the Central Sphere.
Shram Suvidha Portal: Online portal launched by the Ministry of Labour and Employment to ease compliance with labour laws through online registration, licensing, and return filing.
SAMADHAN Portal: Portal launched by the Ministry of Labour Employment for facilitating filing of industrial disputes and claim cases by workers.
Industrial Disputes Act, 1947: An act providing a mechanism for the investigation and settlement of industrial disputes.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1212
TO BE ANSWERED ON 28.07.2025
INTER-STATE MIGRANT WORKMEN (RECS) ACT, 1979
1212. SHRI MADDILA GURUMOORTHY:
Will the Minister of LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT be pleased to
state:
(a)whether the Government is aware that the Inter-State Migrant
Workmen (Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Service)
Act, 1979 is not being effectively implemented across the country,
particularly in sensitive and vital installations, if so, the details
thereof;
(b)whether it is a fact that several contractors deploying workers at
these critical establishments are failing to register them and are
violating the provision of maintaining proper records;
(c)if so, the steps taken or proposed to be taken by the Government
to ensure strict compliance of the Act by the contractors and
principal employers, especially in installations handling national
security and strategic projects;
(d)whether the Government proposes to initiate stringent inspections
and penal actions against such erring contractors and employers
who fail to register and safeguard the rights of Inter-State Migrant
workmen; and
(e)the details of the number of cases of violation reported and the
action taken thereon in the last three years in the Government
establishments?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE FOR LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
(SUSHRI SHOBHA KARANDLAJE)
(a) to (e): In order to safeguard the interest of the Migrant workers,
the Parliament has enacted the Inter-State Migrant Workmen
(Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Services) Act, 1979
which, inter alia, provides for registration of certain establishments
employing Inter-State Migrant Workers, licensing of contractors etc.
Contd..2/-:: 2 ::
Workers employed with such establishments are to be provided
minimum wages, journey allowance, displacement allowance,
residential accommodation, medical facilities and protective
clothing etc.
The enforcement authorities under Central Industrial
Relations Machinery (CIRM) conduct regular inspections of the
registered establishments and licensed contractors in the Central
Sphere. The State Governments are mandated to enforce the Act, in
the State Sphere.
The Shram Suvidha Portal has been launched to ease
compliance by providing the facilities of online registration, licence,
return filing by business entities along with a randomised risk based
inspection system, thereby reducing subjectivity, for the law
implementing agencies.
The Ministry of Labour & Employment has launched
SAMADHAN Portal for facilitating filing of industrial disputes by the
workmen, employers and trade unions under the Industrial Disputes
Act, 1947. It also has facilities for filing of claim cases by workers
under the Payment of Gratuity Act, 1972, the Minimum Wages Act,
1948, The Payment of Wages Act, 1936, the Equal Remuneration Act,
1976 & the Maternity Benefit Act, 1961.
*****