Himachal Pradesh Factories (Amendment) Rules, 2024: Key Changes in Factory Licenses

Introduction

The Himachal Pradesh government has introduced the Himachal Pradesh Factories (Amendment) Rules, 2024, aimed at streamlining and updating various provisions under the Factories Act, 1948. These amendments primarily focus on revising the fee structure for factory licenses, updating safety provisions, and enhancing the role of qualified inspectors for testing and certification of equipment.

Revised Fee Structure

The amendment introduces a new fee schedule for factory licenses based on the number of employees and the horsepower installed. For instance, the license fee for a factory employing up to 9 persons with a maximum horsepower of 20 is ₹1,460, while factories employing over 1,000 workers with more than 20 horsepower must pay fees that can go as high as ₹131,400.

Enhanced Safety Measures

The Rule 12-A, empowering the Chief Inspector to recognize individuals or institutions as “competent persons” for conducting inspections, tests, and certifications in factories. These competent persons must meet qualifications set in the schedule, though the Chief Inspector can relax these with state government approval. Recognized individuals or institutions are authorized to handle inspections of buildings, dangerous machinery, hoists, pressure plants, and other factory equipment. A non-refundable fee of ₹25,000 and a security deposit of ₹1,00,000 must accompany the application for certification, with a similar fee required for renewals.

Conclusion

The Himachal Pradesh Factories (Amendment) Rules, 2024, mark a critical step towards modernizing the state’s industrial regulations, particularly focusing on enhancing safety standards and revising licensing fees. These changes are set to make factory operations safer and more regulated in alignment with contemporary industrial practices.

Download: Himachal Pradesh Factories Rules, 2024: New Amendments