The Government on February 22, 2019 issued a notification refreshing the categorisation of currency printing presses and mints as ‘Public Utility Service’ under the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947.
Upon declaration of a service as public utility service as per the law, employees need to comply with certain conditions for strikes and lockouts.
The printing presses and mints declared as public utility services include: India Security Press (Nashik), India Government Mints (Kolkata, Noida, Mumbai and Hyderabad), Security Printing Press (Hyderabad), Security Paper Mill (Hoshangabad) Services in the Bank Note Press (Dewas), Currency Note Press (Nashik Road).
On February 1, 2019, the government also declared the services of ‘Transport (other than railways) for the carriage of passengers or goods (by land or water)’, covered by entry 1 in the First Schedule to the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947, as a public utility service for six months.
