Jharkhand adopts new bill to curb job racket

The Jharkhand government has introduced a strict law against placement agencies to rein in those involved in exploiting people on the pretext of giving employment outside the state.
The government framed 'Jharkhand Nizi Niyozan Abhikaran and Gharelu Kamgar (viniyam) vidheyak 2016 (Jharkhand private employment agency and domestic employee bill) which was passed by the assembly recently, an official release said today.
The bill was taken up at the behest of Chief Minister Raghubar Das who had advocated strong action against such agencies.
The bill is aimed at removing the stain of human trafficking from Jharkhand and to put curb on placement agencies involved in the act, the release said.

Under the new act, licence or proof certificate is required for placement agencies, and they should take licence within 90 days of the notification of the act, including those existing before the notification, the release said.
On functioning as a placement agency without registration or licence or involved in illegal human trafficking, the offender would be sentenced to two years to jail or fined Rs 1 lakh or both, the release said.

Those who violate rules under the act or flout conditions of registration proof certificate would attract one year jail and Rs 20,000 fine or both, the release said.

Under the new act, the placement agency could not take any money from the domestic workers and make available employment details and employment registration certificate within a week.
The placement agencies cannot employ people below 18 years of age and should keep details of every employee along with regulation of minimum wage, eight hours duty and double the wage on doing overtime and leave as per the rule, the release said.
The placement agency should also ensure the wages are deposited in the bank account of the employee.