The Contract Labour (Regulation And Abolition) Act, 1970

This practical manual on the Contract Labour (Regulation & Abolition) Act, 1970 converts statutory text into operational compliance for businesses that engage contract labour. Beginning with scope and applicability, it explains who qualifies as a principal employer, who is a contractor, and when the Act’s abolition provisions might be invoked. The guide lays out registration and licensing processes under the Act and state rules, provides model application forms and specimen licences, and supplies ready-made registers (attendance, wage, welfare) and notices employers must maintain. Detailed chapters cover statutory welfare obligations — canteens, first aid, drinking water, restrooms, crèche, working hours and overtime — as well as payroll record-keeping, payment of wages, and statutory deductions. Enforcement topics include inspection routines, show-cause notices, penalties, prosecution and appellate routes, with practical notes on defence strategy and rectification. The book contains checklists for contractors and principal employers, worked examples for wage computation and overtime, process flows for licence renewal and transfer, and templates for worker welfare schemes. Special sections address contract labour during project mobilization, inter-state deployment, outsourcing HR functions, and compliance during audits. Designed for HR teams, contractors, legal advisors and labour inspectors, this handbook reduces non-compliance risk and converts legal obligations into clear daily procedures.