In order to protect the contract labourers from exploitation and ensure them decent work rights, Government of India enacted the Contract Labour (Regulation & Abolition) Act, 1970, which provides for abolition of contract labour system upon recommendation of the Central Advisory Contract Labour Board wherever possible and practicable. In cases where contract labour system cannot be abolished altogether, the working condition of contract labour is regulated so as to ensure payment of decent wage and basic amenities including the same wage rates, holidays, hours of work and other condition of service as applicable to regular workmen on the same or similar kind of work either of the contractor or the Principal Employer.
A well-established Central Industrial Relations Machinery (CIRM) is in place to enforce various labour laws in Central Sphere including the Contract Labour (Regulation & Abolition) Act, 1970. The country-wide network of Deputy Chief Labour Commissioners and Regional Labour Commissioners under the control of Chief Labour Commissioner (Central) is mandated to settle the complaints/claims in regard to grievances/complaints arising out of the enforcement of various labour laws.
For effective implementation of various labour laws, regular inspections are conducted by the officers of Central Industrial Relations Machinery (CIRM). The details of enforcement in respect of the Contract Labour (Regulation & Abolition) Act, 1970 for the year 2015-16 is as under:-
| Particulars | 2015-16 |
| No. of Inspections conducted | 10593 |
| No. of Irregularities | 117936 |
| No. of Prosecution Launched | 3411 |
| No. of Convictions |
2009 |