Rajya Sabha clears bill to replace 100 years old Boiler Act

The Rajya Sabha has passed the Boilers Bill 2024. It repeals the Boilers Act,  1923. Specific provisions have been made in the Bill to ensure the safety of persons working inside a boiler and the repair of boilers undertaken by qualified and competent persons. For Ease of Doing Business, the Bill will benefit boiler users including those in the MSME sector as provisions related to the decriminalization have been incorporated in the Bill.

Replying to a debate on the bill, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal said the government is revisiting all the laws of the pre-independence era. He said, Boilers Bill seeks to make the country safe. He said the bill has focused on higher



standards of safety for the workers, accountability, flexibility and efficiency.

Initiating the discussion, Brij Lal of BJP welcomed the bill saying it is intended for the safety of workers in industries. He said the Modi Government has focused on ease of doing business and safety is an important part of it.  

Neeraj Dangi of Congress said the provision in the Boilers Bill allows the exclusion of certain areas from the operation of the Act. He questioned how it would ensure safety.

Dr. John Brittas of CPI (M) said the Boilers Bill does not have substance. He said it was old wine in a new bottle.