Labour Law for SEZ
Labour Law for SEZ
As per Special Economic Zones (SEZs) Act and Rules framed thereunder, the Central Government shall have no authority to relax any law relating to the welfare of the labour in the SEZs. All Labour laws are applicable in Special Economic Zones. The rights of the workers/labour are therefore protected under the SEZs Act. Ongoing review and reform, as necessary, of Government policy and procedure is inherent to Public Policy. The Government, on the basis of inputs/suggestions received from stakeholders on the policy and operational framework of the SEZ Scheme, periodically reviews the policy and operational framework of SEZs and takes necessary measures so as to facilitate speedy and effective implementation of SEZ policy.
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Certificate Programmes for Exporters
The Federation of Indian Export Organisations (FIEO) regularly organises programmes at different locations to equip the new entrepreneurs and update the knowledge of those who are already in the field of export-import, on wide range of subjects, including introduction to international trade, trade finance, export documentation, role of insurance agencies, Foreign Trade Policy, etc.
These programmes help the entrepreneurs to understand the statutory requirements for export-import and the promotional support given by the Government and various agencies as also update them about changing dynamics of international trade.
These programmes help the entrepreneurs to understand the statutory requirements for export-import and the promotional support given by the Government and various agencies as also update them about changing dynamics of international trade.
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Mega Conclave organized by Quality Council of India gets underway in New Delhi
Celebrating the 10th year of National Quality Conclaves, the Quality Council of India (QCI) organized today a mega Conclave which was inaugurated by Shri. Amitabh Kant, Secretary, DIPP ( Ministry of Commerce & Industry) in the capital today.
The theme of this year’s Conclave is ”Creating an Ecosystem for World Class Quality”. The Conclave is being co-hosted by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and Quality Austria Central Asia (QACA) with American Society for Quality (ASQ) as the knowledge partner.
Delivering the Keynote Address, Amitabh Kant, highlighted that India needs to achieve 9 to 10% p.a. growth for 3 decades which would lead to transformation of the nation & poverty being eliminated. He cited the examples of countries like Japan, Korea, China who grew in the back of manufacturing. India’s growth is on the back of the services and Growth of the services sector, without stress on manufacturing would result in skipping the industrialization era. Mr. Kant stressed that manufacturing creates job opportunities and the job challenges can be overcome through growth in manufacturing.
Secretary DIPP highlighted that there was a pressing need to Make India an easy place to do business, so that manufacturing can easily get established and Excel in manufacturing .In this context he lauded Zero Defect Zero Effect (ZED) movement being initiated by Quality Council of India (QCI) which will change the manufacturing landscape of the country transforming the completely MSME sector.
In the inaugural session, QCI presented awards across sectors for promotion of best practices & creating world-class quality benchmarks to reach new levels of efficiency & productivity.
Over 1000 delegates from India and abroad including quality professionals, industry managers, WHO representatives and senior officials from Central and State Governments are participating in this event.
Shri Adil Zainulbhai, Chairman of QCI, mentioned the initiative of QCI to elevate the quality level of more than 1.5 Million MSMEs in a time of 5 years to support the Make in India Campaign.
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Import and Price of Aluminium
Production of Aluminium, Export and Imports of Aluminium and Aluminium Products are given below:-
(value in lakh tonnes)
Year
|
2012-13
|
2013-14
|
2014-15
|
Production
|
17.20
|
17.23
|
20.47
|
Export
|
5.16
|
5.75
|
7.14
|
Import
|
11.20
|
13.37
|
11.20
|
The import of aluminium scrap and decreasing price of aluminium in international market have an adverse impact on aluminium industry.
The representation received from Aluminium Association of India has requested for increasing basic custom duty on aluminium products from 5% to 10% and to increase basic custom duty on aluminium scrap to bring it at par with the duty on primary metal. The same has been sent to Department of Revenue for necessary action. Earlier requests were examined by Department of Revenue as part of the Budget 2015-16 and had not been acceded to.
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Benefits to Exporters
Inorganic chemicals are classified under chapter 28, Organic chemicals are classified under chapter 29 and Pharmaceutical products are classified under chapter 30 of ITC (HS) Classification of Export and Import items. Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) has allowed exporters to avail zero duty Export Promotion Capital Goods scheme and reward scrips for exports for notified products/markets, as covered under Chapter 3, in the same financial year, subject to certain conditions, as specified from time to time, in the Foreign Trade Policy 2009-14, as amended.
The Foreign Trade Policy 2015-20 has introduced several measures for facilitating trade and improving ‘Ease of doing Business’ by reducing the number of mandatory documents required for export and import to three each. In order to facilitate faster processing and enable working in 24*7 mode, DGFT has facilitated submission of various applications and documents in online mode, as well as online payment of application fees through credit/debit cards and electronic fund transfer from 53 banks. DGFT has also recently launched a mobile application (android based) for facilitating trade. Central Board of Excise and Customs has facilitated integration of Plant Quarantine and Food Safety and Standards Authority of India with EDI system of Customs for purposes of export and import. These measures will facilitate trade by reducing transaction cost and time.
The Foreign Trade Policy 2015-20 has introduced several measures for facilitating trade and improving ‘Ease of doing Business’ by reducing the number of mandatory documents required for export and import to three each. In order to facilitate faster processing and enable working in 24*7 mode, DGFT has facilitated submission of various applications and documents in online mode, as well as online payment of application fees through credit/debit cards and electronic fund transfer from 53 banks. DGFT has also recently launched a mobile application (android based) for facilitating trade. Central Board of Excise and Customs has facilitated integration of Plant Quarantine and Food Safety and Standards Authority of India with EDI system of Customs for purposes of export and import. These measures will facilitate trade by reducing transaction cost and time.
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Protection to Domestic/Traditional Industries
Activities of multinational and foreign companies are governed by the FDI policy contained in the Consolidated FDI policy circular 2015 and Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA), 1999, as amended from time to time. In order to safeguard domestic and traditional industries, certain sectors/ activities are not open to ownership and control by non-residents. Further, investment in a number of sectors/ activities can be made only after government approval. Still, FDI in a number of sectors/activities is subject to performance-linked conditions.
FDI policy of the Government though, on the one hand, has placed necessary safeguards to protect the domestic and traditional industries, on the other hand, has also kept most of the sectors under the automatic route to keep India as increasingly attracting destination for foreign investment. The measure is meant to help Indian entities to have access of foreign capital for their business growth.
The detailed information is available in ‘Consolidated FDI Policy Circular of 2015’ at this Department’s website (www.dipp.nic.in).
FDI policy of the Government though, on the one hand, has placed necessary safeguards to protect the domestic and traditional industries, on the other hand, has also kept most of the sectors under the automatic route to keep India as increasingly attracting destination for foreign investment. The measure is meant to help Indian entities to have access of foreign capital for their business growth.
The detailed information is available in ‘Consolidated FDI Policy Circular of 2015’ at this Department’s website (www.dipp.nic.in).
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Salt Production in Rajasthan
At present, the country has around 6.16 lakh acres of salt producing land. The Central Government owns about 60,586 acres of salt pan lands out of which 50,488 acres of land are under salt production in various salt producing States of Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Odisha and Tamil Nadu.
Rajasthan is the third largest salt producing State in the Country after Gujarat and Tamil Nadu. Out of the total of 268.87 lakh ton of salt produced in the country in 2014-15, the total salt produced in Rajasthan is 21.58 lakh ton.
The production of salt in Rajasthan including in Barmer district during the last three years i.e. 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2014-5 is as follows:
In lakh ton
2012-13
|
2013-14
|
2014-15
| |
Rajasthan
|
18.25
|
17.01
|
21.58
|
Barmer district
|
0.35
|
0.31
|
0.31
|
Currently, the Government does not have any proposal under consideration to promote the salt production in saline areas of Thar region including Pachpadra.
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Composite Caps on Foreign Investment
The Government, on 30.07.2015, introduced composite caps on foreign investments in the country, so that uniformity and simplicity are brought across the sectors in Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) policy for attracting foreign investors. Composite cap is applicable across the sectors.
With the introduction of composite caps foreign investment shall include all types of foreign investments, direct and indirect, regardless of whether the said investments have been made under Schedule 1 (FDI), 2 [Foreign Institutional Investor(FII)], 2A [Foreign Portfolio Investor(FPI)], 3 [Non-Resident Indian(NRI)], 6 [Foreign Venture Capital Investor(FVCI)], 8 [A Qualified Foreign Investor(QFI)], 9[Limited Liability Partnership (LLP)] and 10 [Depository Receipts(DRs)] of Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA) (Transfer or Issue of Security by Persons Resident Outside India) Regulations. Foreign Currency Convertible Bond (FCCBs) and DRs having underlying of instruments which can be issued under Schedule 5, being in the nature of debt, shall not be treated as foreign investment. However, any equity holding by a person resident outside India resulting from conversion of any debt instrument under any arrangement shall be reckoned as foreign investment. The measure is expected to bring clarity in FDI policy and boost foreign investment.
As regards misuse of the FDI policy and the monitoring mechanism, it is mentioned that RBI monitors the foreign investment inflows and specific violations of FDI policy are investigated by Enforcement Directorate.
With the introduction of composite caps foreign investment shall include all types of foreign investments, direct and indirect, regardless of whether the said investments have been made under Schedule 1 (FDI), 2 [Foreign Institutional Investor(FII)], 2A [Foreign Portfolio Investor(FPI)], 3 [Non-Resident Indian(NRI)], 6 [Foreign Venture Capital Investor(FVCI)], 8 [A Qualified Foreign Investor(QFI)], 9[Limited Liability Partnership (LLP)] and 10 [Depository Receipts(DRs)] of Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA) (Transfer or Issue of Security by Persons Resident Outside India) Regulations. Foreign Currency Convertible Bond (FCCBs) and DRs having underlying of instruments which can be issued under Schedule 5, being in the nature of debt, shall not be treated as foreign investment. However, any equity holding by a person resident outside India resulting from conversion of any debt instrument under any arrangement shall be reckoned as foreign investment. The measure is expected to bring clarity in FDI policy and boost foreign investment.
As regards misuse of the FDI policy and the monitoring mechanism, it is mentioned that RBI monitors the foreign investment inflows and specific violations of FDI policy are investigated by Enforcement Directorate.
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Government Imposes Basic Custom Duty of 10% on Wheat till 31.03.2016
The Government has decided to impose basic custom duty of 10% on wheat till 31st March, 2016. This was announced by the Finance Minister Shri Arun Jaitley in Lok Sabha today.
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