Gandhinagar: Gujarat is set to introduce an Omnibus legislation aimed at cutting regulatory compliances and enhancing ease of doing business (EODB). The bill is expected to be tabled in the assembly session next month, top govt officials said.“The proposed bill will implement six priority areas by amending provisions in five existing state acts administered by different departments. This will bring changes spanning urban safety, labour regulations, MSMEs, medical regulation and delivery of public services under the same legislative exercise,” an official said. The session of the Gujarat assembly will be held from Sep 8 to 10.The proposed legislation is part of the second phase of the Centre’s Compliance Reduction and Deregulation Exercise and seeks to bring reforms across multiple departments under a single Omnibus Bill. The move is aimed at strengthening Gujarat’s ease of doing business as well as ease of living ecosystem in line with the Centre’s broader reform agenda, sources said.Among the laws proposed to be amended is the Gujarat Fire Prevention and Life Safety Measures Act, 2013, administered by the urban development and urban housing department. The labour and employment department will undertake amendments to the Gujarat Shops and Establishments (Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Service) Act, 2019.The Gujarat Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (Facilitation of Establishment and Operation) Act, 2019, will also be amended. The Health and Family Welfare department’s Gujarat Medical Council Act, 1967, and the general administration department’s Gujarat (Right of Citizens to Public Services) Act, 2013, are the other two laws identified for amendments.The omnibus approach is intended to consolidate reforms that otherwise would require changes to legislation handled by different departments. “The govt’s stated objective is to reduce the compliance burden, simplify statutory procedures and further strengthen the EoDB and EoL (ease of living) ecosystem in the state,” sources close to the development said.Proposed amendments to five acts# Urban development and urban housing department: Gujarat Fire Prevention and Life Safety Measures Act, 2013# Labour and employment department: Gujarat Shops and Establishments (Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Service) Act, 2019# MSME commissionerate: Gujarat Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (Facilitation of Establishment and Operation) Act, 2019# Health and family welfare department: Gujarat Medical Council Act, 1967# General administration department: Gujarat (Right of Citizens to Public Services) Act, 2013
