In Jammu and Kashmir, the Labour Department has urged all factories operating in the UT to register under the Factories Act, 1948, to promote the welfare, safety, and security of the labor force.

The directive aims to ensure that all factory operations adhere to legally mandated standards that protect workers’ rights, working conditions, and overall well-being. The public notice issued by the Labour department stated that the factories act, 1948 is designed to safeguard the health, safety and welfare of workers in factories and to ensure that factory operations adhere to established labour standards including working hours, wages, annual leave and more. However it has been observed that the number of industries/factories registered with the industries and commerce department (DIC) is much more than the number of factories registered with the labour department under the Factories Act. Many operational factories have yet to fulfill these requirements, and the department warned that this gap undermines the core purpose of the Act, which is to regulate factory working conditions for workers’ safety and health. The notice also extended these requirements to owners of steam boilers under the Boiler Act, 1923, emphasizing that they must register their equipment with the Labour Department. The department offers an online portal at singlewindow.jk.gov.in for convenient registration and renewal which will remain active for 20 days for registration, warning that failure to comply will result in direct notices and potential legal action. For non-compliance, Sections 92 and 94 of the Factories Act outline severe penalties, including imprisonment for up to two years or a fine of up to one lakh rupees.