Special Empirical observational Visit to the Office of the Deputy Labour Commissioner Cooch Behar
30-09-2026
Faculty Coordinator: Mr Kushal Sharma, Assistant Professor of Law
Place: Office of the Deputy Labour Commissioner, Dilkush Bhaban, Temple Road, Cooch Behar, West Bengal, India
Date of Visit: 29 September 2026
Number of Students: 34
The visit was undertaken by 39 students of LL.B. Semester III with the objective of providing practical exposure to the enforcement machinery of labour laws, functioning of the District Labour Office, and the consolidation of labour legislation into the Four Labour Codes, as part of the curriculum of Labour and Industrial Law - I.
The students observed and noted key practical aspects such as minimum wages being revised twice a year in January and July with Rs. 375 per day as minimum wages for labour, wage disbursement timeline of the 7th of the following month for establishments with less than 1000 workers and 10th for more than 1000 workers and within 7 days under Payment of Wages Act, 1936, bonus entitlement from 8.33% to 20% with a minimum eligibility of 10 to 20 days of work, leave benefits including 6 months of maternity leave with 80 days of must-work criteria, 30 days of paternity leave and 15 days of adoption leave, the State Welfare Scheme of 1998, which is totally free for the workers after 2020, and gratuity entitlement for any employee completing a minimum of 5 years of service calculated as the last salary divided by 26 x 15 x the number of years of service. The interaction also covered provisions relating to movement of workers to another state for work, Child Labour Act, 1986, Right to Education under Article 21(A), Child Welfare Committee and Helpline 1098, definition of child below 14 years and adolescent between 14 to 18 years, fine of Rs. 50,000 for fake age certificate, and the judgment of M.C. Mehta Vs. State of Tamil Nadu.
The visit was conducted as an interactive and observational exercise, adhering to official decorum and discipline with no photography inside the office premises, and proved to be an enriching and experiential learning exercise, providing students with practical exposure to labour administration and statutory compliance at the district level.
The institution expresses its sincere gratitude to the Office of the Deputy Labour Commissioner, Cooch Behar, for granting permission and extending their cooperation during the visit.
