Strictly implement suggestions to improve conditions of sugarcane workers: Bombay HC to state

They included bringing in a law similar to the one in place for Mathadi workers who carry weight on their head or back, and also suggested structural overhauling of the Gopinath Munde Sugarcane Labourers Welfare Board to make it alive to ground realities.

The court recorded a statement by Additional Government Pleader Priyabhushan Kakade for state government that it has accepted all suggestions and they shall be implemented from next sugarcane cutting season. While the HC appreciated the state’s “proactive” stand, it said that the government “should not take the issue lightly” by assuming that there is no liability on it right away until next season.

The HC asked the government to file a compliance report by last week of November, 2025, when it will hear the plea next.
A bench of Chief Justice Alok Aradhe and Justice Makarand S Karnik was hearing the suo motu plea initiated in 2023 that referred to a “disturbing” news report in an English daily on the pitiable condition of sugarcane workers from Beed, Dharashiv, Jalna, Latur and some parts of Nanded and Parbhani districts, who migrate to West Maharashtra’s sugar belt that comprises Sangli, Kolhapur, Pune, Satara, Solapur and Ahmednagar districts.

The court noted that Maharashtra is second largest sugar producing state in the country and accounts one third of total production and there are 210 sugar mills, including 104 privately run and 106 managed by cooperative societies of farmers.

It said that every year, 10 to 12 lakh workers migrate within the state and are engaged in cutting, pruning and transporting of sugarcanes and have to perform duties in “exceedingly difficult conditions.

Moreover, the court was told that every sugarcane worker couple gets a paltry sum of over Rs. 366 per tonne sugar cutting/loading, resulting in getting trapped in “vicious cycle of debt and bonded labour”.

Desai pointed out that the Supreme Court and Bombay HC in past verdicts had held that sugarcane cutters have to be given status of workmen under the Industrial Disputes Act.

He said while three different expert committees considered the issue, their reports were not implemented by the authorities.

The state government has issued certain government resolutions (GRs) for the welfare of sugarcane workers, but they are not implemented in letter and spirit, Desai added.

Desai also suggested that the state government should ensure that the sugarcane workers should be eligible within the purview of the Bonded Labour Act, so that central schemes for rehabilitation can be applicable to them.

He further sought enforcement of the Contract Labour (Regulation and Abolition) Act, 1970, and the Inter-State Migrant Workmen (Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Service) Act, 1979 and to register sugarcane workers under the said laws.

The suggestions also include welfare for women workers and providing adequate, washing area and free or subsidised sanitary napkins facilities.