The Contract Labour (Regulation and Abolition) Act, 1970 is a central legislation that regulates the employment of workers engaged through contractors in India. It applies to every establishment in which 20 or more contract workers are employed or were employed on any day of the preceding 12 months, and to every contractor who employs or has employed 20 or more workers on any day of the preceding 12 months. The Act covers both Central sphere establishments (under the jurisdiction of the Central Government — such as railways, mines, docks, oilfields, and establishments under the Central Government) and State sphere establishments (under the respective State Governments). The Act mandates registration by principal employers, licensing of contractors, wage payment in the presence of a principal employer’s representative, welfare facilities, and maintenance of prescribed registers and returns.