GUWAHATI, May 8: The Assam government today increased the excise duty on liquor which will see their prices go up by 25 cent. The move will earn the fund-starved state exchequer an additional Rs 1,000 crore.
The decision was taken by the state cabinet today, days after increasing the taxes on fuel. The cabinet meeting was held through video conference.
There has been an eighty per cent drop in revenue collection in April due to the lockdown. Revenue collection for the month of April fell to Rs 193 crore as compared to Rs 932 crore in the corresponding month last year. From tax on foreign liquor, the State got Rs 6 crore in April as compared to Rs 65 crore in March.
The state cabinet also okayed some labour reforms with an idea to increase the scope of employment, which included to introduction of fixed term employment.
As part of the reforms, the government increased the number of minimum employees for implementation of Factories Act from 10 to 20 (with power) and from 20 to 40 (without power). Those factories having lesser number of employees will not require registration.
The minimum number of workers for implementation of Contract Labour Act has been increased from 20 to 50.
The shift hours during COVID19 period for workers has been increased from 8 to 12.
The cabinet also cleared the Assam Agricultural Produce and Livestock Marketing (Promotion and Facilitation) ordinance 2020, repeal of the Assam Agricultural Produce Marketing Act 1972, restricting the collection of cess by the board to certain areas. The state government will release the salaries of marketing board employees if required, an official note stated.
