The West Bengal government has issued an advisory introducing guidelines for the state’s film and entertainment industry. The proposed measures cover fair wages, overtime payments, working hours, rest periods, workplace safety, and grievance redressal.
The West Bengal government has introduced a set of guidelines for the state’s film and entertainment industry, focusing on fair wages, reasonable working hours, workplace safety and professional dignity for artistes, technicians and other workers. The Information and Cultural Affairs Department issued an advisory on Thursday, October 29, covering film, television, OTT platforms, web series and digital content productions undertaken wholly or partly in the state, irrespective of the language of production. The guidelines aim to bring greater transparency to the industry and establish better working conditions for those involved in productions.
New Rules And Regulations For West Bengal Film Industry
The advisory was made available to PTI on Friday. A senior official from the Information and Cultural Affairs Department said one of its key provisions seeks to prevent guilds, federations and associations from making membership cards or affiliations compulsory for professional assignments. This means that eligible artistes and technicians should not be denied work solely because they are not members of a particular association.
The government has also asked producers to maintain transparency in wage structures and ensure timely payments. The official said, “To ensure transparent wage structures and timely payment of remuneration, overtime dues and other contractual entitlements. Written contracts or engagement orders specifying remuneration, payment schedules, working hours and responsibilities should be executed before commencement of work, wherever practicable.”
The advisory also lays down proposed working-hour limits for different types of productions. For feature films, OTT productions and web series, it suggests either a 10-hour shift with up to four additional hours or an eight-hour shift with up to six additional hours, subject to statutory limits. For television shows, an eight-hour shift with up to four additional hours has been proposed.
If an artist or technician works overtime for feature films, OTT productions and web series, he/she should be paid at twice the applicable hourly wage rate. Moreover, a minimum six-hour consecutive rest period between two shooting schedules has also been proposed.
The advisory also seeks to fix accountability for payment defaults by line producers. The industry associations may examine the complaints of non-payments. However, the advisory also states that blanket industry-wide bans or ‘coercive action against individuals’ have been prohibited.
Safe Shooting Locations Requirements
The advisory addresses the working conditions on film and television sets. Producers will continue to have the freedom to decide the number and composition of artistes and technicians required for a project, depending on its scale, budget and technical needs. At the same time, they have been asked to ensure safe shooting locations, hygienic meals, proper sanitation and other necessary facilities on sets.
