Safeguarding Interests of Labourers in Labour Intensive Manufacturing Sector

Safeguarding Interests of Labourers in Labour Intensive Manufacturing Sector

The Minister of State for Mines, Steel and Labour and Employment, Shri Vishnu Deo Sai has said that the interest of  labourers in terms of wages and other service conditions are safeguarded under various social welfare legislations. Some of the prominent social welfare legislations are as follows:

Ø Payment of Gratuity Act, 1972             

Ø Employees’ Provident Fund & Misc. Provisions Act, 1952

Ø Employees’ Pension Scheme, 1995

Ø Employees’ State Insurance Act, 1948

Ø Minimum Wages Act, 1948

Ø Payment of Wages Act, 1936

Ø Maternity Benefit Act, 1961

Ø Equal Remuneration Act, 1976   

Ø Payment of Bonus Act, 1965

Ø Workmen Compensation Act, 1923

Ø Mines Act, 1952

Ø Factories Act, 1948

Ø Industrial Dispute Act, 1947

Ø Contract labour (Regulation & Abolition)      Act, 1970 

In a written reply in the Rajya Sabha today, Shri Vishnu Deo Sai has said that  as far as the security  in term of  wages to contract labourers is concerned,  under  Rule 25(2)(v)(a) of the  Contract Labour (Regulation & Abolition) Central Rules, 1971, the wages of the contract labour shall not be less than the rates prescribed under  Minimum Wages Act, 1948 and in cases where  the contract workers perform  the same or similar kind of work as the workmen directly employed  by the principal employer of the establishment, the wage rates, holidays, hours of work and other conditions of service  shall be the same as applicable to the workmen directly employed by the principal employer doing the same or similar kind of work. The liability to ensure payment of wages and other benefits is primarily that of the contractor and, in case of default, that of the principal employer.  

In a written reply in the Lok Sabha 07.07.14 , Shri Vishnu Deo Sai said, the Government has prepared a comprehensive proposal to amend the Factories Act, 1948 in order to   bring in labour reforms. The major amendments proposed include:

·          Relaxation of restrictions on night work for women in factories subject to certain conditions

·          Increase in limit of overtime to 100 hours (existing 50 hours) in a quarter

·          Introduction of a new Sub section regarding compounding of offences

·          Provisions of Personal Protective Equipment for safety of Workers/ More precautions against fumes and gases

·          Empowerment of Central Government to make Rules (presently only State Governments make Rules).