On July 8, 2025, in partnership with the Labour Department, the Greater Noida Authority organized a Factory Act Registration Camp at the DS Group premises in Ecotech‑1 Extension, Greater Noida. The camp saw active participation from the Assistant Director (Factories), our team, and the Assistant General Manager (Industries). This initiative aligns with our collective vision of contributing to Uttar Pradesh’s journey toward becoming a $1 trillion economy.
More than 20 local entrepreneurs joined the camp and received step-by-step guidance for registering their factories under the Factories Act, 1948. The objectives were crystal clear:
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✅ Promote industrial compliance
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✅ Empower MSMEs
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✅ Build investor confidence
This initiative reinforces our commitment to ease of doing business and nurturing a strong industrial ecosystem.
Why the Factory Act Matters: Definition & Scope
The Factories Act, 1948 is a central labor law enacted by Parliament and administered by the Ministry of Labour and Employment, with enforcement carried out by state-level inspectorates. Its primary purpose is to ensure occupational safety, health, and welfare of workers in factories.
Here’s how the Act defines its scope:
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A "factory" may be any premises where a manufacturing process is carried out using power with 10 or more workers, or without power with 20 or more workers employed.
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The Uttar Pradesh government can exempt certain factories during emergencies but generally enforces the Act across all jurisdictions.
Coverage in Uttar Pradesh
In UP, the Factories Act is supplemented by state-specific provisions, including health checkups for hazardous operations (Rule 100-M). New reforms have also raised registration thresholds and simplified compliance protocols.
Key Benefits of Compliance
For Workers
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Safety & Health Standards: Factories must have proper ventilation, lighting, drainage, first-aid facilities, and fire safety measures.
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Working Hours & Rest: Adults are limited to a 48-hour workweek, with Sunday as a mandatory weekly holiday.
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Overtime Compensation: Any work beyond 9 hours a day or 48 hours a week must be paid at twice the wage rate.
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Welfare Facilities: Factories employing women must provide creches; those with 500+ workers need welfare officers; sitting arrangements for standing jobs must be supplied.
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Child Labor Restrictions: No child under 14 can be employed, and certified doctors must examine adolescents before employment .
For Companies
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Legal Legitimacy: Registration is mandatory for operations and grants a valid license to operate.
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Investor Confidence: Registered factories show compliance, making it easier to secure credit, insurance, and capital.
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Ease of Doing Business: UP’s digitization reforms, like auto-renewals, GPS-based inspections, and Nivesh Mitra integration, have greatly reduced manual interventions.
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Lower Penalties: Reforms allow time-bound rectifications before prosecution, promoting a culture of compliance.
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Safety Culture: Enforced standards reduce the risk of accidents, leading to fewer downtimes, lower insurance costs, and higher productivity.
Key Provisions of the Act
⦁ Approval, Licensing & Registration
Factories must submit detailed plans, undergo approvals before construction or expansion, and renew licenses periodically.
⦁ Inspectorate
State governments appoint inspectors, and the District Magistrate also serves as a factory inspector. They ensure compliance through regular inspections.
⦁ Welfare Measures
Factories must provide canteens, washing areas, shelters, seating areas, first-aid boxes, ambulance rooms (for large units), and creches for women workers.
⦁ Health & Safety Rules
Covering everything from ventilations to fire extinguishers, machinery guards, eye protection, and rules on hazardous fumes, the Act ensures workplace well-being.
⦁ Working Hours & Overtime
Adult workers are capped at 48 hours per week and 9 hours per day. Overtime is strictly regulated under sections 51, 54, 55, 56 and 59 .
⦁ Child & Adolescent Safety
Employment of children is strictly banned. Adolescents must be certified fit for work and issued tokens .
⦁ Health Examinations for High-Risk Workers
Mandatory medical examinations are conducted under Rule 100-M for workers in hazardous environments.
⦁ Record-Keeping
Factories must maintain various registers—adult register, leave ledger, overtime record, accident logs, annual returns, etc.—under Model Rules .
UP-Specific Reforms & Rules
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Threshold Increase: UP increased the required number of workers for compulsory registration (e.g. electric-powered units from 10 to 20 workers).
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Women’s Shifts: Women can now work night shifts under regulated safety conditions.
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E‑Governance Push: 10 out of 14 factory services are online via Nivesh Mitra, five in auto-mode. Inspections are GPS-tagged with photo-video proof.
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UP Rules 1950: Includes inspection rules, certifying surgeons for adolescent fitness, and safety provisions for painting/ceiling works.
How the Registration Camp Helped
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Hands-On Support: Entrepreneurs received real-time assistance with documentation, plan submission, and online process navigation.
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Clarification of Provisions: Key Act highlights, documentation needs, compliance timelines, and worker welfare benefits were clearly explained.
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Networking: Local business owners connected with regulatory officers—helping resolve past bottlenecks.
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System Confidence: Participants expressed relief at the new transparent, digital processes—especially for auto-renewals and the allowance for proactive corrections.
One factory owner, affected by theft of documents, was able to reissue licenses and renew compliances swiftly—marking a major relief.
The Bigger Picture: Building Trust & Growth
This initiative isn’t an isolated event—it is part of a broader industrial compliance push in Uttar Pradesh. The state has seen registered factories nearly double, from ~13,800 in 2016 to over 27,450 in 2025. The department now ranks among the top in digital governance, pushing forward with transparency and efficiency .
These metrics reflect why Uttar Pradesh is emerging as India’s manufacturing backbone—leading in smartphones (55% of national output), textiles (13%), auto components, EV chargers, and more. Driving factors include:
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Industrial zones
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SEZs & EMCs
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Smart policies and incentives
All of which rely on robust compliance mechanisms like the Factories Act to build credibility.
Conclusion
The July 8, 2025 camp in Ecotech‑1 Extension was more than an administrative exercise. It was a spark one that empowers MSMEs, amplifies investor trust, and safeguards the welfare of workers. When compliance is made accessible, transparent, and supportive, everyone benefits.
As Uttar Pradesh strides towards:
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Becoming a $1 trillion economy,
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Leading India’s manufacturing surge, and
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Constructing a future-ready industrial ecosystem
This ground-level effort is vital. It transforms legislation on paper into rights and confidence in practice.
Congratulations to all partners involved, from Labour Department officials and GNIDA teams to industrial stakeholders. The path ahead is clear: compliance isn’t a burden,it’s progress.
Here’s to many more camps, better clarity, stronger compliance, and a momentum that empowers businesses and workers alike. Together, we’re forging the robust industrial future of New India.
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