New Bill Seeks to Promote Welfare of Cine Workers in Karnataka

A Bill recently introduced in the Karnataka Legislative Assembly seeks to promote the welfare of and provide social security to cine and cultural activists in the state.

As per the Karnataka Cine and Cultural Activists (Welfare) Bill, 2024, a cine and cultural activist refers to a “person who is employed in relation to the field of cinema to work as an artist (including actor, musician or dancer) or to do any work, skilled, unskilled, manual supervisory, technical, artistic or otherwise or any person who is being engaged in such other activities as declared by the Government, by notification in the official Gazette, for the purpose of this Act”.

Key provisions of the Bill include:

• Setting up of a welfare Board – Section 3 of the Bill envisages the setting up of a welfare Board. This Board is to be tasked with formulating social security schemes for cine and cultural activists, ensuring their registration, setting up a monitoring mechanism to review compliance with the Act’s provisions, and so on. Section 7 requires all cine and cultural activists to be registered with the Board. This registration will be valid for a period of three years, to be renewed within three months from the date of expiry. The Board will maintain a database of these activists along with the details of their employment.
• Levy of welfare cess – A welfare cess is sought to be levied under Section 9. This cess will range between 1-2% on the cinema tickets, subscription fee and all revenue generated from the related establishments in the state (i.e., stand-alone cinema theatres, multiplex halls, over-the-top (OTT), television channels and such other establishments as may be notified). The amount so collected along with the sums received as grant-in-aid, etc. will form part of the fund to be established under Section 8.
• Rights of registered cine and cultural activists – Section 10 lays down the rights of registered cine and cultural activists which includes the right to participate in all decisions taken for their welfare through representation in the Board.
• Employers’ duties – Section 11 requires employers to deposit the amount of welfare cess by the tenth day of each calendar month. They also have to submit half-yearly returns through a portal to be specified for this purpose.
• Grievance redressal – In case of any grievance relating to entitlements, payments, and other benefits under the Act, a petition can be filed before the designated officer under Section 12. An appeal against the order passed by the officer can be filed before the Appellate Authority within 90 days.
• Penalty for non-compliance – Any non-compliance with the provisions of the Act or the rules made thereunder will attract a penalty of up to Rs.10,000 for the first contravention and up to Rs.1 Lakh for subsequent contraventions.

Other provisions pertain to submission of annual reports by the Board, compounding of offences, etc.