The Meghalaya Cabinet on Friday approved amendments to the Rule 98 of the Meghalaya Factories Rules, 1980 by incorporating of Rules 98A. The cabinet has approved ‘The Meghalaya Factories (Amendment) Rules, 2025’, which will substitute the existing sub-rule(2) of Rule 6 of the Principal Rules – “Every License granted or renewed under this chapter shall remain valid or be in force for a minimum period of one year to a maximum period of 10 years as applicable. The license so granted or renewed shall remain valid up to the end of the tenure period”.
Chief Minister Conrad Sangma highlighted that the changes aim to enhance the ease of doing business in the state. “We have amended the Meghalaya Factories Rules, 1980, in line with the Government of India’s ‘Ease of Doing Business’ provisions. Earlier, certain factory licenses had to be renewed annually. Now, these licenses can be extended for up to 10 years, with regular checks and monitoring by the government,” he said while addressing the media after the Cabinet meeting.
The amendments also include provisions permitting women to work night shifts, provided safety measures are ensured. “Earlier, women were not allowed to work in night shifts. As part of the ease of doing business provisions, the Government of India recommended states amend this law. Assam was the first state in the Northeast to implement it, and Meghalaya has followed suit,” the Chief Minister explained.
The safety measures for women working night shifts include the installation of CCTVs, GPS tracking systems, security apps, and other safeguards. These amendments reflect the state government’s commitment to modernizing labour laws and promoting a business-friendly environment.