Ishtiyaq Kar
Srinagar, Nov 13 (KINS): The Jammu and Kashmir Labour Department has urged all factories operating in the Union Territory to register under the Factories Act, 1948, to promote the welfare, safety, and security of the labor force.
The directive aims to ensure that all factory operations adhere to legally mandated standards that protect workers’ rights, working conditions, and overall well-being.
The Labour department public notice as per news agency KINS stated that the factories act, 1948 is designed to safeguard the health, safety and welfare of workers in factories and to ensure that factory operations adhere to established labour standards including working hours, wages, annual leave and more.
However it has been observed that the number of industries/ Factories registered with the industries and commerce department (DIC) is much more than the number of factories registered with the labour department under the Factories Act.
“Many operational factories have yet to fulfill these requirements, and the department warned that this gap undermines the core purpose of the Act, which is to regulate factory working conditions for workers’ safety and health”.
The notice further stated, “Under the Factories Act, any establishment carrying out manufacturing activities—such as processing, packaging, assembling, or even storage—is defined as a “factory” and must comply with standards that include working hours, wages, workplace safety, and annual leave. The notice also extended these requirements to owners of steam boilers under the Boiler Act, 1923, emphasizing that they must register their equipment with the Labour Department”.
“For non-compliance, Sections 92 and 94 of the Factories Act outline severe penalties, including imprisonment for up to two years or a fine of up to one lakh rupees. The notice specifies a 20-day window for registration, warning that failure to comply will result in direct notices and potential legal action. Additionally, factory owners with expired licenses are urged to renew within seven days from the notice date to avoid prosecution,” it reads.
To facilitate this process, the Labour Department offers an online portal at singlewindow.jk.gov.in for convenient registration and renewal. Factories in Jammu may contact Shram Bhawan on Railway Road, while factories in Kashmir can reach out to the Batamaloo office in Srinagar for further assistance.(KINS)
