<h1>Maharashtra Amends Act: Manual Work as 'Core Activity' for Head-Loaders, Raises Minimum Employment Age to 18 Years</h1> The Maharashtra assembly passed an amendment bill defining manual work as a 'core activity' to benefit head-loaders and porters, clarifying work types to eliminate bogus workers. The amendment to the Maharashtra Mathadi, Hamal and Other Manual Workers Act, 1969, raises the minimum employment age for head-loaders from 14 to 18 years. It defines manual work as physical tasks done without machines, including loading and unloading. The bill aims to curb extortion and gang wars among Mathadis and mandates filling vacancies on the advisory committee to ensure effective implementation of the Act's provisions.