The SEZ Act, through an amendment brought about by the Parliament, envisages that 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 SEZ 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 SEZs. The Government has notified SEZ Rule (amendment) 2013 vide GSR 540E dated 12.8.2013 to reduced land requirement criteria and other reform measure to boost SEZ policy framework.

The information was given by the Minister of State (Independent Charge) in the Ministry of Commerce & Industry Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman in a written reply in Rajya Sabha today.

Labour law protection in SEZs remains fully applicable, preventing relaxation and ensuring worker rights under the SEZ framework. The SEZ framework affirms that labour laws remain fully applicable within Special Economic Zones and the Central Government cannot relax welfare-related labour laws; the government periodically reviews SEZ policy based on stakeholder inputs and has amended SEZ Rules to reduce land requirements and streamline the policy framework.