CHAPTER IV THEORETICAL FRAME WORK

CONCEPT OF LABOUR WELFARE : The term welfare means making a worker to fit in economic and social conditions within and outside the industry. It may be viewed as a total concept, social concept as a relative concept. The total concept is a involving the related relative The as it themselves to citizens. DEFINITIONS : cannot aim or and work the physical, desirable state of existence mental, moral and

emotional well-being. These four elements together constitute structure of welfare of man, his family and aspects are interin a three dimensional together community. All these three

approach. The relative concept of welfare implies that welfare in time and place. object of welfare activities is partly

humanitarian, partly economic and partly civic. It is humanitarian aims at providing certain facilities and which they workers contended and keep the amenities of life to the workers,

minimize the chances of conflict. It is civic, because it is a means promote sense of responsibility and dignity make them better among the workers and to

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Labour welfare is defined as such services, facilities and amenities which may be established in, or in the person amenities the vicinity of undertaking to enable congenial surroundings and to provide them with conductive the International Labour

employed there in, to perform their work in healthy and to good health and good morals, by Organization (ILO).

The Labour investigation Committee defined labour welfare as Anything done for the intellectual, physical, moral and economic betterment of the workers whether by employers, by government or by other agencies over and above what is laid down by law of what is normally expected of benefits for which workers may have LABOUR WELFARE ACTIVITIES : Many welfare amenities described in the main report of the Labour Investigation Committee of 1946 have statutory become a part of the employers welfare measures organized today industrial workers: 1. Sanitary and Hygienic Facilities 2. Rest Facilities. 3. Feeding Facilities 4. Medical Facilities 5. Occupational Health Facilities 6. Family Planning 7. Creches
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the contractual bargained.

obligation. The following are some of the important labour

8. Housing 9. Transport Facilities 10. Recreational and Cultural Facilities 11. Educational Facilities 12. Co-operative and Saving Facilities 13. Co-operative Credit Societies 14. Personnel Counseling 15. Distress Relief and Cash Benefits. LABOUR WELFARE IN INDIA : BEFORE INDEPENDENCE : The origin of Labour Welfare activity dated back to 1837 in India, when Indian Labour was being imported after the abolition of slavery in 1833. The earliest act being The Apprentices Act 1850. The next act was passed in 1853 which aimed at providing compensation the families of workmen, who lost their lives as a result of any actionable wrong. These early acts were mainly drawn regulating employment rather than improving the working condition of Labour. It tool 22 long years before the First Indian Factories Act was passed in 1881, which marks the beginning of a series of labour laws, which brought about improvement in the working conditions of labour. Mr.N.M.Lokhande, Chairman of the Mill Hands Association brought the workers together in 1844 and presented a charter of demands to the Mulock Commission.

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The

recommendation

of

the

International

Labour

Conference in 1890 held in Berlin exercised a considerable influence on Labour Legislation in India, which resulted in the passing of The Indian Factories Act of 1891, which was a big advance over the act of 1881. FIRST WORLD WAR : The International Labour Organisation(ILO) was set up in 1919 and in its first meeting in Washington suggested some changes in Labour Welfare Schemes operating in India. Following Industrial unrest in 1919 and 1920, the Government of India enacted the Factories Act 1922, which was later amended in 1926. In 1931, the findings of the Royal Commission on Labour was brought into existence. The next Act was passed in 1934. SECOND WORLD WAR : The need for sustained and increased production gave fillip to India industries. The Government took the initiative and actively promoted welfare activities for industrial employees so as to induce them to produce more. Adjudication, joint consultation, Minimum wages and higher norms of productions were prescribed for many industries. AFTER INDEPENDENCE : The massive investments in industry during the various parts increased the number of workers. It was realized that the Labour Welfare played a positive role in increasing productivity and reducing industrial tensions. The Factories Act of 1948
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replaced all previous legislations on Labour Welfare. It brought in many new concepts and may be considered as an important milestone in the history of Factory Legislation.

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FIVE YEAR PLANS AND LABOUR WELFARE : In the 1st five year plan, the Employees Provident Fund Act 1952 was passed. The most important Labour Legislation in the IV Five year plan were the expansion of the Employees & State Insurance Act 1948 to cover the families of the insured persons and the payment of Gratuity at the time of Retirement to an industrial employee. All these amendments and enactments of legislation from time to time have brought into existence the present labour welfare measures enjoyed by the industrial workers. LABOUR WELFARE LEGISLATION IN INDIA : Labour legislation in India grew with the growth of industry. Labour legislation had been instrumental in shaping the course of industrial relations in India. Establishment of Social Justice has been the principle which was guided and origin in development of labour legislation in India. The setting up of the ILO gave an impetus to the consideration of welfare and working conditions of the workers all over the world and led to the growth of Labour Laws in all parts of the world, including India. Some of the other factors which gave impetus to the development of Labour Laws in India were the Swaraj Movement of 1921-24 the appointment of the Royal Commission on labour in 1929. The Objectives of Labour Legislation are : 1. To protect workers from exploitation 2. To strengthen industrial relation

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3. To provide machinery for setting industrial disputes and welfare of workers Employers are statutorily required to comply with the provisions of various welfare amenities under different Labour Legislations. Such amenities have been sartorially provided under : 1. The Factories Act,1948. 2. The Plantation Act,1951. 3. The Mines Act,1952. 4. The Motor Transport workers Act,1961 5. The 6. The Contract Inter-state Labour Migrant (Regulation (Regulation and of Abolition)Act,1970. workmen Employment and condition of service)Act,1979.

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