The Cine & TV Artistes’ Association (CINTAA) has urged the Maharashtra Labour Department to strengthen protections for workers in the film, television and audiovisual industry during a recent meeting with the state’s Expert Committee on the new Labour Code.Held earlier this month, the meeting was attended by CINTAA president Poonam Dhillon, actors Padmini Kolhapure, Rakesh Bedi and other association members. The delegation presented several concerns relating to cinema workers, television professionals and others employed across the audiovisual sector.KEY PROVISIONS HIGHLIGHTEDSpeaking after the meeting, Poonam Dhillon, President CINTAA, said the Labour Department clarified several statutory provisions under the new Labour Code. “If a worker is engaged for one day’s work, the wages must be paid on the following day. If a worker is employed continuously for seven days, the wages must be paid on the eighth day. Similarly, where employment is on a monthly basis, the monthly wages must be paid at the end of the month, as mandated by law,” she said.Dhillon further noted that employers must provide safe transportation for women working night shifts, execute even a one-day employment contract for workers engaged for a single day, and pay overtime for every hour worked beyond the prescribed eight-hour workday.“It was emphasized that these are important statutory provisions incorporated under the Labour Code,” she added.INDUSTRY SEEKS MORE SAFEGUARDSPadmini Kolhapure, Sr Vice President, CINTAA, also proposed additional worker-friendly provisions for inclusion in the Labour Code. “The Labour Department assured the members that the suggestions submitted by CINTAA would be examined and considered for possible inclusion in the law,” she said.The meeting marks another step in CINTAA’s efforts to secure stronger legal safeguards and improved working conditions for professionals across India’s entertainment industry.EXPERTS ADDRESS WORKERS’ CONCERNSAll the queries and concerns raised by CINTAA were addressed with reference to the relevant legal provisions by Principal Secretary, Labour Department, I.A. Kundan; Labour Commissioner H.P. Tummod; Development Commissioner Sushil Khodwekar; Legal Advisor Sunil Sharma; Deputy Secretaries Deepak Pokale, Swapnil Kapadnis and Roshani Kadam-Patil; Joint Labour Commissioner Shireen Lokhande; and other members of the Expert Committee.
