Chandigarh, Jun 22 (IANS): To encourage the establishment of large manufacturing units and boost generation of employment opportunities in the state, the Punjab government on Monday decided to amend the law and rules to change the definition of such units, while ushering in a host of other reforms to make such industries operate with ease.

The state cabinet, at a meeting chaired by Chief Minister Amarinder Singh, approved the necessary amendments in Section 45 (4) of the Factories Act, 1948 and in Rules 2(A), 3 (A) and 70 (5) of the Punjab Factory Rules 1952, to raise the threshold limit for defining a large factory from more than 500 workers' to more than 1,000 workers'.

The change was necessary to encourage the establishment of large manufacturing units, which industrialists were at present shy of doing on account of the conditions laid down years ago, many of which were no longer implementable in the current scenario.

For instance, under the existing Section 45 (4) of the Factories Act, 1948, an ambulance room is mandatory for factories employing more than 500 workers.

When such provisions were envisaged, the factories employing such large number of workers were located away from the cities.

Moreover, the modes of transport and communication were negligible.

According to a government spokesman, the rights and liberties of workers will remain fully protected even after these amendments, aimed at facilitating quicker revival of the industry.