Goa’s New Factory Rules: What You Need to Know About the Goa Factories (Seventeenth Amendment) Rules 2024

The Government of Goa on January 2^nd 2025 issued the Goa Factories (Seventeenth Amendment) Rules 2024 to further amend the Goa Factories (Seventeenth Amendment) Rules 1985.

These changes, which include updates to the licensing process, occupational healthcare requirements, and fee structures, aim to improve factory management and ensure better compliance with labor and safety regulations.

Amendment of Rule 6: Application for Registration and Grant of License

One of the significant changes is in Rule 6, which governs the application process for factory registration and license issuance. The amendment brings a crucial update regarding fees:

• A new schedule for fees has been introduced for both the initial license and its annual renewal.
• Online Applications: Factories applying for registration and license renewal online must now pay the fees through an e-challan payment gateway.
• Annual Fee Increase: Starting from January 1st, 2026, the fees will increase by 5% each year, based on the fees paid in the previous year.

Substitution of Rule 8: Amendment of License

Another important update is in Rule 8, which covers the procedures for amending a factory’s license. Factory owners must understand the various scenarios in which their license could need amending:

• Types of Amendments: The license may need to be amended if there is a change in:
  • The factory’s name
  • The organizational status (e.g., if the factory undergoes a merger or acquisition)
  • The factory site (including changes to the premises or layout)
  • The manufacturing process (including additions or deletions)
  • Changes in workforce or horse-power exceeding the limits specified in the license.

• Deadline for Amendments: Once an application for amendment is made, the Chief Inspector has a 21-day window to approve or reject the amendment request. If no decision is made within this period, the factory license is automatically deemed to be amended.

• Fee Structure: The fees for amendments vary depending on the nature of the change. For example:
  • ₹500 for changes in the factory name or site.
  • ₹5000 for amendments due to mergers or acquisitions.
  • The fee for exceeding worker or horse-power limits will depend on the difference in the license or renewal fees for the higher limits.

Amendment of Rule 11: Removal of Specific Sub-Rules

Under Rule 11, the government has removed two sub-rules that previously required factory owners to submit a treasury receipt showing payment of fees for specific license amendments. These sub-rules pertained to:

• Amendments due to changes in the factory name or organizational status.
• Amendments following an acquisition or merger.

With these sub-rules omitted, the process has been streamlined, saving time for both factory owners and officials.

Amendment of Rule 90 O: Occupational Healthcare

Occupational health and safety have received a significant update in Rule 90 O, which deals with the qualifications required for the Factory Medical Officer. The following changes are noteworthy:

• The Factory Medical Officer must hold a qualification from the Medical Degrees Act, 1916 or the Medical Council Act, 1956, or possess a Diploma in Occupational and Industrial Health from a recognized university.
• A new qualification option has been introduced: a three-month certificate course in Associate Fellow of Industrial Health, offered by the Directorate General of Factory Advice Services and Labour Institute (DGFASLI) Mumbai or any other approved institute. This is in line with guidelines issued by the DGFASLI.

This change expands the pool of qualified professionals eligible to serve as Factory Medical Officers, improving access to health and safety expertise in factories.

Amendment of Rule 95: Ambulance Room

Rule 95, which outlines the requirements for factory ambulance rooms, has also been updated:

• Staffing Requirements: Every ambulance room must now have at least one qualified nurse or dresser-cum-compounder, with a nursing attendant in each shift, if the factory operates multiple shifts.
• Factory Medical Officer Qualification: Factory Medical Officer overseeing the ambulance room must hold a Diploma in Occupational and Industrial Health or a three-month certificate course from an approved institute.

Substitution of Form No. 1. – Application for Approval of Plans to Construct, Extend or take into use any Building as a Factory or Revision in Plant and Machinery Layout or Revision in Site on which the Factory is situated

Substitution of Form No. 2 – Application for Registration and Grant of License and/or Notice of Occupation or Amendment of Licence or Transfer of License

Effective Date : January 2 , 2025