The Gujarat government has launched 232 criminal proceedings against 39 factories in Kheda district for breaching labor laws, as revealed by Labour and Employment Minister Kunvarji Bavaliya in the state Legislative Assembly. These actions stemmed from inspections conducted by the labor department in response to worker complaints and representations. The minister emphasized that these inspections aimed to uphold labor laws effectively while ensuring industrial harmony and safety in the state.
In Kheda district, the labor department conducted on-site inspections of 667 industrial units, leading to show-cause notices being issued to 73 factories for alleged labor law violations. Out of these, 34 factories were instructed to comply with legal provisions, while legal measures were taken against the remaining non-compliant units. A total of 232 criminal cases were filed against 39 factories that failed to adhere to labor laws, with courts having resolved 229 cases and imposing fines totaling Rs 5,20,000 on the erring factory owners.
Labour Minister Bavaliya also disclosed inspection details from other districts following worker complaints. In Devbhumi Dwarka district, 166 industrial units were inspected on-site, while 416 units underwent inspections in Jamnagar district. Whenever complaints are received from workers or labor organizations against any industrial unit, labor department officials conduct inspections and verifications at the concerned premises. Most worker complaints pertain to issues like wage non-payment, bonus discrepancies, gratuity disputes, or worker terminations, with the labor department striving to mediate settlements before resorting to legal action when labor law violations are confirmed.
