Exemption from labour laws in Guj for new industrial units

    Ahmedabad, May 9 (PTI) The Gujarat government on
Saturday announced exemption from certain labour laws for
1,200 days to firms that want to set up new units in the
state in order to "boost economic activities" post-lockdown.
    Earlier, governments of Uttar Pradesh and Madhya
Pradesh had offered concessions from labour regulations in
their states to attract investment.
    The government also announced relief amid coronavirus
pandemic for industries which use natural gas supplied by
Gujarat Gas, a subsidiary of state-owned Gujarat State
Petroleum Corporation, by giving more time to pay gas bills.
    "Companies in Gujarat, India and abroad willing to
bring new projects and set up new units in the state will be
freed from labour laws for 1,200 days, except those related to
the minimum wages and industrial safety," said Ashwani Kumar,
secretary to Chief Minister Vijay Rupani.
    Local MSME owners willing to set up new units will
also get this exemption, he said.
    In a tweet, Chief Minister's Office said that this
step was being taken to "boost economic activities and
generate employment in post-lockdown period", but the
exemption will not apply to "provisions for minimum wages,
safety and compensation in case of accidents".
    Kumar also said that Micro, Small and Medium Scale
Enterprises such as ceramic units in Morbi in Saurashtra and
units in south Gujarat which depend on gas supplied by Gujarat
Gas can now pay their bills due in the second half of March by
May 10, and bills due till May 10 can be paid in fortnightly
installmentstill June 23.
    The government also waived Minimum Offtake Guarantee
(minimum fixed charge for gas) for these industries from April
to June, as they are unable to use the gas due to coronavirus
lockdown, Kumar said.
    Interest on late payment of gas bills for these units
was also reduced to 10 per cent from 18 per cent, he said.
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(This story has not been edited by THE WEEK and is auto-generated from PTI)