The Centre has issued administrative clearance for the labour amendments sought by the Maharashtra government in the Industrial Disputes Act and Contract Labour (Regulation and Abolition) Act, 1970, and suggested that firms having up to 1,000 workers be allowed to close down without having to seek prior state government sanction.
The state government proposal for raising the limit on monthly emoluments from the existing Rs 1,600 to Rs 10,000 for offering legislative protection to employees is still pending sanction.
A senior state government official said:
