Dear Shri. Kamal Kant ji (Advocate),
With due respect to you Sir, I feel you have made mistake in reading the reply of Shri. Dhindgra ji (Advocate). What he has said is the Society would become the Principal Employer which is very contradictory to the reply of Shri. Harikrishan.
My say on this subject matter is as under:
Co-operative Housing Society is not an establishment under CLA as defined thereunder. Also there is a judgment of Keral HC as stated by Shri. Harikrishan. It was even told to me by some one that Mumbai High Court also has similar Judgment.
Co-operative Housing Society is not an industrial establishment or undertaking or industry under ID Act as defined thereunder.
EPF Act is not applicable to Co-operative Housing Society employing less than 50 employees (Section 16 (a)).
I have not come across any provision or notification covering or not covering Co-operative Housing Society under ESI Act. However, such repairs and painting work can be exempted from ESI.
It is advisable to hire a contractor for this work who is covered under ESI Act. Other wise, the Employee Compensation Act is applicable to this work.
The said repair and painting work may fall under the preview of BOCW Act if cost of work is more than 10 lakhs.
Experts are requested to contribute their views in this matter.
Thanks and regards.
Keshav Korgaonkar
Shantadurgaent.com,Insurance Advisors,Corporate Advisors,Legal Advise,Wage and salary,Shantadurgaent.com,Labour Compliance Audit,SSI registration,NOC from
From India, Mumbai
2555With due respect to you Sir, I feel you have made mistake in reading the reply of Shri. Dhindgra ji (Advocate). What he has said is the Society would become the Principal Employer which is very contradictory to the reply of Shri. Harikrishan.
My say on this subject matter is as under:
Co-operative Housing Society is not an establishment under CLA as defined thereunder. Also there is a judgment of Keral HC as stated by Shri. Harikrishan. It was even told to me by some one that Mumbai High Court also has similar Judgment.
Co-operative Housing Society is not an industrial establishment or undertaking or industry under ID Act as defined thereunder.
EPF Act is not applicable to Co-operative Housing Society employing less than 50 employees (Section 16 (a)).
I have not come across any provision or notification covering or not covering Co-operative Housing Society under ESI Act. However, such repairs and painting work can be exempted from ESI.
It is advisable to hire a contractor for this work who is covered under ESI Act. Other wise, the Employee Compensation Act is applicable to this work.
The said repair and painting work may fall under the preview of BOCW Act if cost of work is more than 10 lakhs.
Experts are requested to contribute their views in this matter.
Thanks and regards.
Keshav Korgaonkar
Shantadurgaent.com,Insurance Advisors,Corporate Advisors,Legal Advise,Wage and salary,Shantadurgaent.com,Labour Compliance Audit,SSI registration,NOC from
From India, Mumbai
Dear V.Harikrishnan But my point is that , if the Housing Society has not formed , then CLRA act/ rules is applicable ? Pls revert me, matter is most urgent . Regrds, AK SHARMA
From India, Pune
From India, Pune
Dear Keshav,
Please understand that Contract Labour Act is applicable on the establishments where some commercial activities are going on but in your case it is a housing society which cannot be said to have conducting some commercial activity. that is why CLRA would not be applicable here.
From India, New Delhi
Please understand that Contract Labour Act is applicable on the establishments where some commercial activities are going on but in your case it is a housing society which cannot be said to have conducting some commercial activity. that is why CLRA would not be applicable here.
From India, New Delhi
Dear Shri. Kamal Kant ji (Advocate),
Thank you very much for your posting. Your posting gave me an opportunity to go thru’ the posting in the thread once again. Due to this I could trace out the judgment in Powar vs Labour Enforcement Officer (C) 1993 (66) FLR 833 ( Kerala) which is requested by one of our colleagues Shri. Anil Sharma.
I clarify my self as under:
I said in my post that Co-operative Housing Society is not an establishment under CLRA Act as defined thereunder.
Shri. Hariharan also said that Housing Society does not carry on any industry, trade, business, or manufacture or occupation then it is not an "establishment" as defined in section 2(e)(ii) of the CLRA Act and therefore need not take out a registration under the CLRA Act if contract labour is employed. But Shri. Dhingra said that the society would become the Principal Employer.
Hence I pointed out to you that Shri. Hariharan and Dhingra are not in the same line of view.
You have rightly said that CLRA Act cannot be applicable on housing society by any stretch of imagination as there is no commercial activity involved in it.
From India, Mumbai
Thank you very much for your posting. Your posting gave me an opportunity to go thru’ the posting in the thread once again. Due to this I could trace out the judgment in Powar vs Labour Enforcement Officer (C) 1993 (66) FLR 833 ( Kerala) which is requested by one of our colleagues Shri. Anil Sharma.
I clarify my self as under:
I said in my post that Co-operative Housing Society is not an establishment under CLRA Act as defined thereunder.
Shri. Hariharan also said that Housing Society does not carry on any industry, trade, business, or manufacture or occupation then it is not an "establishment" as defined in section 2(e)(ii) of the CLRA Act and therefore need not take out a registration under the CLRA Act if contract labour is employed. But Shri. Dhingra said that the society would become the Principal Employer.
Hence I pointed out to you that Shri. Hariharan and Dhingra are not in the same line of view.
You have rightly said that CLRA Act cannot be applicable on housing society by any stretch of imagination as there is no commercial activity involved in it.
From India, Mumbai
Dear Anil Sharmaji,
Please find herewith a copy of judgment in Powar vs Labour Enforcement Officer (C) 1993 (66) FLR 833 ( Kerala) and also in Gowrisankaran K. vs Labour Enforcement Officer.
Answer to your query to Shri. Harikrishnan, in my view even the housing society is not formed the CLRA Act and rules would not be applicable provided the RC obtained by the Developer and Builder while constructing the building is surrendered on completion of the project / obtaining occupation certificate.
From India, Mumbai
Please find herewith a copy of judgment in Powar vs Labour Enforcement Officer (C) 1993 (66) FLR 833 ( Kerala) and also in Gowrisankaran K. vs Labour Enforcement Officer.
Answer to your query to Shri. Harikrishnan, in my view even the housing society is not formed the CLRA Act and rules would not be applicable provided the RC obtained by the Developer and Builder while constructing the building is surrendered on completion of the project / obtaining occupation certificate.
From India, Mumbai
Dear All,
I reside in a housing society is registered under Societies Act. There is a single employee taking care of cleanliness, security, STP morning to evening and also required to sleep (only sleep) in the parking area at night for taking care of security. There are no clear rules for the number of hours of work per day/week and also time for rest. Can he be fired at short notice (he has been working for the Society for 4 years)?
What are the rules governing employment of labour in unorganised sector in India like house holds etc like this employee? Are people in this category he/she too entitled to leave, normal hours of work/week/day etc
Awaiting your response please.
Thanks
Mims
attribution https://www.citehr.com/203278-housin...#ixzz2TKuGGmc6
From India, Bangalore
I reside in a housing society is registered under Societies Act. There is a single employee taking care of cleanliness, security, STP morning to evening and also required to sleep (only sleep) in the parking area at night for taking care of security. There are no clear rules for the number of hours of work per day/week and also time for rest. Can he be fired at short notice (he has been working for the Society for 4 years)?
What are the rules governing employment of labour in unorganised sector in India like house holds etc like this employee? Are people in this category he/she too entitled to leave, normal hours of work/week/day etc
Awaiting your response please.
Thanks
Mims
attribution https://www.citehr.com/203278-housin...#ixzz2TKuGGmc6
From India, Bangalore
Dear All,
This old discussion I would like to continue.
I also agree with Saikumar ji. In the entire discussion, only punch by Harikrishan ji is in right direction.
Please do not misunderstand me. I have no intention to hurt any one. I wish to draw your kind attention n only with in intension to exchange / share/ enhance our information and knowledge and correct ourselves.
The question in this discussion is whether the labour laws are applicable to Housing Societies?
Judgments in Powar V. LEO© and Gowrisankaran K Vs. LEO are given by me earlier. In addition to that following points may also be considered.
The society is under a statutory duty to manage, administer and maintain the building of society, pay property tax, water tax and common electrical charges in stipulated time. Apart from this, maintenance of building and other amenities such as sweeper services, security services, lift services, switching on / off common lights, pumping of water etc. are to be looked after. Managing Committee is responsible to do this. The members of society elect the Managing Committee. Each member is required to contribute his share of contribution to meet the expenses of society. The Managing Committee or the society is required to hire the services by various persons.
The services rendered to members are domestic in nature like operating lift, water supply, electricity, cleaning, sweeping and security. Even repairs and maintenance is domestic in nature according to me. These services are essential for the very existence safety and security of the members of society and building of society. These services, therefore are in nature of personal services and can not be said to be economic activity. Such services as contended by itself would not make the society as a “shop”. (Ref. ESIC Vs. Tulsiani Chambers HC Mum 2008 LLR 362.
Society consisting of various premises which are used for business purpose by the members are required to collect maintenance charges and statutory charges from its members under the provisions of Co-operative Societies Act and its Bye Laws. Such activity of the society would not amount to commercial or business activity. The society hence not covered even under section 1(3) of EPF&MP Act 1952. (Ref. Backbay Premises CHS Vs. Union of India 1997 (2) CLR 1075.
Co-operative Society is neither an establishment which carries on any business, trade or profession nor a society registered under Societies Registration Act. It is therefore not a commercial establishment as defined under the Bombay S&E Act and hence it will not come within the purview of the Bombay S&E Act. (Ref: letter of Under Secretary to GOM addressed to Mumbai District Co-op. Housing Federation).
Society can not be held to be industry or shop and at the highest it can be stated that employees of Society are rendering personal services to the members of the society. ID Act 1947 not applicable to Society (Ref: Apex Court in Management of SOM Vihar Apartment Owners Housing Maintenance Society Ltd. Vs. Workmen, Indian Engineering and General Mazdoor 2001 LLR 599: 2001(3) LLN 815 (SC).
Society in which its members carry on commercial and trading activities, can not be treated or said to be engaged in any commercial venture of business, trade or profession and does not even amount to “commercial establishment” much less a “shop”. Such society is amenable to Minimum Wages Act 1948 in so far as employees of Society are concerned. (Ref: Kiran Industrial Premises Co-op Society Ltd. Vs. Janata Kamgar Union 2001 9890 FLR 707 (Bom).
CHS having residential and commercial tenements is not an establishment if it not carrying on business, trade or profession even though some of its members are carrying on business, trade or profession in their premises. Relevant test is whether the society is carrying on business, trade or profession. Mere rendering of service by Society to its members can not be said to be either business or trade or commercial activity to come under the preview of Security Guards Act. (Ref: Maharashtra Rajya Suraksha Rakshak & Gen. Kamgar Union Vs. Security Guard Board for Greater Mumbai and Thane District 2007 (2) AIR Mom. R. 146 (DB).
Hope the above points are sufficient to conclude whether the labour laws are applicable to Societies.
From India, Mumbai
This old discussion I would like to continue.
I also agree with Saikumar ji. In the entire discussion, only punch by Harikrishan ji is in right direction.
Please do not misunderstand me. I have no intention to hurt any one. I wish to draw your kind attention n only with in intension to exchange / share/ enhance our information and knowledge and correct ourselves.
The question in this discussion is whether the labour laws are applicable to Housing Societies?
Judgments in Powar V. LEO© and Gowrisankaran K Vs. LEO are given by me earlier. In addition to that following points may also be considered.
The society is under a statutory duty to manage, administer and maintain the building of society, pay property tax, water tax and common electrical charges in stipulated time. Apart from this, maintenance of building and other amenities such as sweeper services, security services, lift services, switching on / off common lights, pumping of water etc. are to be looked after. Managing Committee is responsible to do this. The members of society elect the Managing Committee. Each member is required to contribute his share of contribution to meet the expenses of society. The Managing Committee or the society is required to hire the services by various persons.
The services rendered to members are domestic in nature like operating lift, water supply, electricity, cleaning, sweeping and security. Even repairs and maintenance is domestic in nature according to me. These services are essential for the very existence safety and security of the members of society and building of society. These services, therefore are in nature of personal services and can not be said to be economic activity. Such services as contended by itself would not make the society as a “shop”. (Ref. ESIC Vs. Tulsiani Chambers HC Mum 2008 LLR 362.
Society consisting of various premises which are used for business purpose by the members are required to collect maintenance charges and statutory charges from its members under the provisions of Co-operative Societies Act and its Bye Laws. Such activity of the society would not amount to commercial or business activity. The society hence not covered even under section 1(3) of EPF&MP Act 1952. (Ref. Backbay Premises CHS Vs. Union of India 1997 (2) CLR 1075.
Co-operative Society is neither an establishment which carries on any business, trade or profession nor a society registered under Societies Registration Act. It is therefore not a commercial establishment as defined under the Bombay S&E Act and hence it will not come within the purview of the Bombay S&E Act. (Ref: letter of Under Secretary to GOM addressed to Mumbai District Co-op. Housing Federation).
Society can not be held to be industry or shop and at the highest it can be stated that employees of Society are rendering personal services to the members of the society. ID Act 1947 not applicable to Society (Ref: Apex Court in Management of SOM Vihar Apartment Owners Housing Maintenance Society Ltd. Vs. Workmen, Indian Engineering and General Mazdoor 2001 LLR 599: 2001(3) LLN 815 (SC).
Society in which its members carry on commercial and trading activities, can not be treated or said to be engaged in any commercial venture of business, trade or profession and does not even amount to “commercial establishment” much less a “shop”. Such society is amenable to Minimum Wages Act 1948 in so far as employees of Society are concerned. (Ref: Kiran Industrial Premises Co-op Society Ltd. Vs. Janata Kamgar Union 2001 9890 FLR 707 (Bom).
CHS having residential and commercial tenements is not an establishment if it not carrying on business, trade or profession even though some of its members are carrying on business, trade or profession in their premises. Relevant test is whether the society is carrying on business, trade or profession. Mere rendering of service by Society to its members can not be said to be either business or trade or commercial activity to come under the preview of Security Guards Act. (Ref: Maharashtra Rajya Suraksha Rakshak & Gen. Kamgar Union Vs. Security Guard Board for Greater Mumbai and Thane District 2007 (2) AIR Mom. R. 146 (DB).
Hope the above points are sufficient to conclude whether the labour laws are applicable to Societies.
From India, Mumbai
Dear Friends, No further discussion on my last post. What is the reason? Is my post is not digestible or is it fully digested?
From India, Mumbai
From India, Mumbai
Dear Mr. Korgaonkar,
I appreciate your discussion on the applicability of certain Labor Laws to CHS. Certainly, you have argued quite well. However, I would defer with a viewpoint that such logic cannot be applied as a blanket application to all possible cases of CHS. For example, considering these days that there are several large CHS forming of 1000+ members, or even Federation of CHS happening within the same premises (amalgamations). In such events, it is not so black and white to think that there is no economic interest. Say, if one security guard has to render a personal service to only one member then it would cost such member a lot more, but when a few members come together they share such bill making their outgoings quite low, this certainly can be construed as an economic interest. Thus, it is not entirely true to say that there is no economic interest. Societies do have economic interest as mentioned under Section 4 of the Maharashtra Cooperative Societies Act, and such economic interest has to be looked after by the management committee (this principal is used by several Consumer Court case laws).
The purpose of CLRA is to protect the interests of unorganized workforce who usually bears economic disadvantage. The laws are written to protect the weaker person or weaker section of the society, as for obvious reasons, the stronger one rules the weaker one. This is the essence of common law. The laws are made for the welfare of mankind.
Besides, you may also know the legal maxim, "Those that cannot be done directly cannot be done indirectly." Let's consider this hypothetical situation. Just to bend the rules, 100 small subcontractor are formed and no subcontracting company employs more than 20 persons, and all such subcontracting companies support single Principal Employer. Such arrangement would then defeat the purpose of the CLRA.
Certainly the law is dynamic and its interpretation keeps on changing with changing times. The interpretations of Article 21 of India's Constitution have widened so much since 1950s. Therefore, I feel that each CHS case has to be evaluated based on the facts that are linked with its operation.
Regards,
P. Nadkarni
Advocate
From India, Pune
I appreciate your discussion on the applicability of certain Labor Laws to CHS. Certainly, you have argued quite well. However, I would defer with a viewpoint that such logic cannot be applied as a blanket application to all possible cases of CHS. For example, considering these days that there are several large CHS forming of 1000+ members, or even Federation of CHS happening within the same premises (amalgamations). In such events, it is not so black and white to think that there is no economic interest. Say, if one security guard has to render a personal service to only one member then it would cost such member a lot more, but when a few members come together they share such bill making their outgoings quite low, this certainly can be construed as an economic interest. Thus, it is not entirely true to say that there is no economic interest. Societies do have economic interest as mentioned under Section 4 of the Maharashtra Cooperative Societies Act, and such economic interest has to be looked after by the management committee (this principal is used by several Consumer Court case laws).
The purpose of CLRA is to protect the interests of unorganized workforce who usually bears economic disadvantage. The laws are written to protect the weaker person or weaker section of the society, as for obvious reasons, the stronger one rules the weaker one. This is the essence of common law. The laws are made for the welfare of mankind.
Besides, you may also know the legal maxim, "Those that cannot be done directly cannot be done indirectly." Let's consider this hypothetical situation. Just to bend the rules, 100 small subcontractor are formed and no subcontracting company employs more than 20 persons, and all such subcontracting companies support single Principal Employer. Such arrangement would then defeat the purpose of the CLRA.
Certainly the law is dynamic and its interpretation keeps on changing with changing times. The interpretations of Article 21 of India's Constitution have widened so much since 1950s. Therefore, I feel that each CHS case has to be evaluated based on the facts that are linked with its operation.
Regards,
P. Nadkarni
Advocate
From India, Pune
Dear Advocate Nadkarni ji,
Welcome you in this knowledge sharing forum.
Thank you so much for your kind words of appreciation for me which were much needed. (My contributions in this discussion was totally neglected).
I do agree with you.
But I do not agree with the example given by you of economic interest of society by hiring the services of guard to be construed that the society is engaged in business or trade or commercial activity.
Consumer Law is different than Labour Laws and therefore Consumer Court Case Laws has no relevance to Labour Laws, to my views.
I look forward your active participation in this forum in years to go. This forum requires Law qualified members so that the object of the forum of sharing the knowledge can meet with.
From India, Mumbai
Welcome you in this knowledge sharing forum.
Thank you so much for your kind words of appreciation for me which were much needed. (My contributions in this discussion was totally neglected).
I do agree with you.
But I do not agree with the example given by you of economic interest of society by hiring the services of guard to be construed that the society is engaged in business or trade or commercial activity.
Consumer Law is different than Labour Laws and therefore Consumer Court Case Laws has no relevance to Labour Laws, to my views.
I look forward your active participation in this forum in years to go. This forum requires Law qualified members so that the object of the forum of sharing the knowledge can meet with.
From India, Mumbai
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