School of Business

Bangladesh Open University

MBA(Evening) Program

Semester: Spring 2020

Gazipur Campus
9th Batch

An Assignment
on
An essay on welfare measures for the workers in the industrial unit

Course Name : Industrial Relations

Course Code : HRM 6317

Submitted To
Professor Dr. M A Mannan
Vice-Chancellor
Bangladesh Open University

Submitted By
Syed Tanvir Ahmed
Student ID: 18-2-34-802-014

Date of Submission : 07/05/2020

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Introduction:

Labour welfare is an important dimension of industrial relation, labour welfare includes overall
welfare facilities designed to take care of well being of employee's and in order to increase their
living standard .It can also be provided by government, non government agencies and trade
unions. The concept of labour welfare is flexible and elastic and differs widely with time, region,
industry, social values and customs, degree of industrialization, the general socio – economic
development of the people and the political ideologies prevailing at a particular time. It is also
molded according to the age – group, sex, socio – cultural background, marital and economic
status and educational level of the workers in various industries.. Labour welfare occupies a
place of significance in the industrial development economy. It is an important facet of industrial
relations, the extra dimension, giving satisfaction to the worker in a way which even a good
wage cannot. With the growth of industrialization and mechanization, it has acquired added
importance, A happy and contented work force is an asset for the industrial prosperity of
any nation,1Labourwelfare is nothing but the maintenance function of personnel in the
sense that it is directed specifically to the preservation of employee health and attitudes.
In other words, it contributes to the maintenance of employee morale. The welfare services in an
industry is to improve the living and working conditions of workers and their families
because the workers well-being cannot be achieved in isolation of his family.Labour welfare,
though it has been proved to contribute to efficiency in production, is expensive.

Definitions of Labour Welfare Measures:

A few definitions of labour welfare measures are given as under:- The Labour Investigation
Committee was of the view to include under ‘ Labour Welfare: “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 or what is normally
expected of the contractual benefits for

which workers may have bargained.”

According to the Committee on Labour Welfare, welfare services should mean, “Such Services,
facilities, and amenities as adequate canteens, rest and recreation facilities, sanitary and medical

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facilities, arrangements for travel to and from place of work, and for the accommodation of
workers employed at a distance from their homes; and such other services, amenities and
facilities, including social security measures as contribute to the conditions under which workers
are

employed.”

The International Labour Organization (ILO) report refers to labour welfare as, “Such services,
facilities and amenities as may be established in or in the vicinity of undertakings to enable the
persons employed in them to perform their work in healthy, congenial surroundings and provided
with amenities conducive to good health and high morale.”

Objectives of Labour Welfare:

There could be multiple objectives in having a labour welfare programme. The concern for
improving the lot of the workers, a philosophy of humanitarianism or what is now termed as
internal social responsibility, a feeling of concern, a caring by providing some of life's
basic amenities, besides the basic pay packet. Such caring is supposed to build a sense of
loyalty on the part of the employee towards the organization.

4The humanitarian approach has given way to a more practical utilitarian approach. The
utilitarian approach views investment in welfare through an economic framework where the
possible cost benefit to the organization gains greater concern through improved or quicker
services from the employees ."The welfare package by taking care of the basics of living, frees
the worker to devote his time and attention to the organizational task and thus enhance efficiency
and output. An attractive package, which provides benefits throughout the course of an
employee's career, serves to attract and retain the better workers and simultaneously
enhance their morale. The organization is also eligible to certain tax concessions by
spending on employee welfare".

History Of Labour Welfare:

In India the labour welfare started sometime during the 1 st world war (1914-1918). Till then
wellbeing of workers in factories was hardly thought by anybody.

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Industrial Labour Organization has played a very significant role for labour welfare.

Bangladesh Labour Act-2006 has provided provisions regarding workers’ working hours,
different types of leave and holidays, their health and safety as well as welfare measures.

Classification of Labour Welfare Work :

The classification of labour welfare is based on dividing industrial welfare measures into three
categories.

1. Statutory,

2.Voluntary,

3.Mutual

The purpose of welfare:

The purpose of welfare facilities is to build up from the bottom, to control work for people so as
to enable them to give their best and to train them to understand their obligation and
responsibilities. The Factories Act, 1965, the Plantation Labors Ordinance, 1963, the Mines Act,
1923, the Dock Labors Act, 1934 dealt with the problem of welfare of the industrial workers in
the environment of factories, plantation and mines before the legislation of the Bangladesh Labor
Act, 2006. Information relating to certain welfare facilities, such as canteen, crèches and rest-
shelters for industrial workers, is gradually becoming available, at any rate, in respect of factory
workers, as the use of new forms prescribed under the Bangladesh Labor Act, 2006 is being
enforced. This Act ensures all welfare facilities including first-aid appliance, washing facilities,
canteen facilities, shelter or rest rooms and suitable launce room facilities, rooms for children,
recreational and educational facilities and house building facilities for daily necessities in tea
estate, medical care for newspaper employees and compulsory group insurance.

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Welfare measure for the workers in Bangladesh:

Bangladesh Labour Act-2006 has provided provisions regarding workers’ working hours,
different types of leave and holidays, their health and safety as well as welfare measures. We will
discuss all these issues here in relation to the Labor Act. Let’s discuss them one by one.

89.First-Aid Appliances:

Section 89 of the Act ensures for provision of medical facilities for the workers. The section
clearly lays down that—

1) There shall, in every establishment be provided and maintained, so as to be readily

accessible during the working hours, first-aid boxes or almirahs equipped with the prescribed
contents.

2) The number of such boxes or almirah shall not be less than one for every fifty workers
ordinarily employed in the establishment.

3) All such boxes and almirahs shall be kept in charge of a responsible person who is trained
in first-aid treatment and who shall always be available during the working hours of the
establishment.

4) A notice shall be affixed in every work-room stating the name of person in charge of the
first-aid box or almirah provided in respect of that room and such person shall wear a badge so as
to facilitate identification.

5) In every establishment wherein three hundred or more workers are employed, there shall
be provided and maintained and ambulance room or dispensary of the prescribed size containing
the prescribed equipment or similar facilities, in the charge of such medical and nursing staff as
may be prescribed.

The first-aid boxes or cup-board shall be distinctively marked with a red cross on a white ground
and shall contain the following equipment—

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 For factories in which the number of persons employed does not exceed ten or in the case
of factories in which mechanical power is not used does not exceed fifty persons, each first-aid
box or cupboard shall contain the following equipment

90. Maintenance Of Safety Record Book :

Section 90 of the Bangladesh Labor Act provides that a compulsory safety record book and
safety board as prescribed by rules shall be provided and maintained where more than 25
workers works in every establishment. To maintain Safety Record Book is the new provision for
the management of welfare facilities.

91.Washing Facilities:

The Bangladesh Labor Act, 2006 has mentioned regulation regarding enough washing facilities.

According to section 91(i) in every establishments

a) Adequate and suitable facilities for washing and bathing shall be provided and
maintained for the use of the workers therein.

b) Separate and adequately screened facilities shall be provided for the use of male and
female workers; and

c) Such facilities shall be conveniently accessible and shall be kept clean.

(ii) The Government may, in respect of any establishment, prescribe standards of adequate and
suitable facilities for washing.

92.Canteens:

Section 92 of the Act provides that—

(1) An adequate canteen shall be provided for the use of workers in any establishment wherein
more than one hundred workers are ordinarily employed.

(2) The Government may, by rule, provide for –

(aThe standards in respect of construction, accommodation, furniture and other equipment of the
canteen.

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(b)The constitution of a managing committee for the canteen and representation of the workers
in the management of the canteen,

(3) The managing committee shall determine the type of foodstuff to be served therein the
charges, which may be made therefore.

93.Shelters Or Rest Room And Launch Room:

Section 93 of the Act states that-

(1) In every establishment wherein more than fifty workers are ordinarily employed, adequate
and suitable shelters or rest rooms, and a suitable lunch room with provision for drinking water
where workers can eat meals brought by them, shall be provided and maintained foe the use of
the workers:

Provided that any canteen maintained in accordance with the provisions of section 92 shall be
regarded as part of the requirements of this sub-section.

Provided further that where lunch room exists, no workers shall eat any food in the work room.

(2) The shelters, rest rooms or lunch rooms provided under subsection (1) shall be sufficiently
lighted and ventilated and shall be maintained in a cool and clean condition.

(3) In every establishment wherein more than 25 women workers are employed, separate rest
rooms shall be provided for male and female workers and where less than 25 female workers
work, the portion of the rest room for female workers shall be separated by a curtain.

94.Rooms For Children:

Establishments employing 40 or more women are required to maintained crèches for the use of
children below 6. Section 94 of the Bangladesh Labor Act stipulates the following provisions
regarding crèches for any establishment:

(i)In every establishment, wherein more than forty women workers are ordinarily employed,
there shall be provided and maintained a suitable room or rooms for the use of children under the
age of six years of such women.

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(ii)Such rooms shall provide adequate accommodation, be adequately lighted and ventilated and
maintained in a clean and sanitary condition, and shall be under the charge of women trained or
experienced in the care of children and infants.

(iii)Such rooms shall be conveniently accessible to the mothers of the children accommodation
therein and so far as is reasonably practicable it shall not be situated in close proximity to any
part of the factory where obnoxious fumes, dust or odious are given off or in which excessively
noisy processes are carried on.

(iv)Such rooms shall be soundly constructed and all the walls and roof shall be of suitable heat
resisting materials and shall be water proof.

(v)The height of such rooms shall not be less than 300 centimeter from the floor to the lowest
part of the roof and there shall be not less then 600 centimeter of floor area for each child to be
accommodated.

(vi)Effective and suitable provisions shall be made in every part of such rooms for securing and
maintaining adequate ventilation by the circulation of fresh air.

(vii)Such rooms shall be adequately furnished and quipped and in particular there shall be one
suitable cot or cradle with the necessary bedding for each child, at least one chair or equivalent
seating accommodation for the use of each mother while she is feeding or attending to her child
and a sufficient supply of suitable toys for the older children.

(viii) A suitable fenced and shady open air play-ground shall be provided for the older
children.

94A. Residential accommodation for handicapped workers:

In an industrial establishment where there is arrangement for residential accommodation for

workers, the handicapped workers shall be given preference in the allotment of such
accommodation.]

95. Recreational and educational facilities in tea plantations :

The Government may, in respect of tea plantations- (a) make rules requiring every employer
thereof to make provisions for such recreational facilities for the workers employed therein and

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their children as may be specified in such rules; (b) where the number of children of any tea
plantation workers between the ages of 6 (six) and 12 (twelve) years exceeds 25 (twenty-
five), make rules requiring the employer thereof to provide educational facilities for the
children in such manner and of such standard as may be specified in such rules; (c) require the
establishment of suitable medical centers in every tea plantation for the workers and their
children in such manner as may be prescribed by rules.

96. Housing facilities in tea plantations :

The employer of every tea plantation shall provide housing facilities for every worker and his
family residing in the tea plantation.

97. Facilities for obtaining daily necessities, etc. in tea plantations :

The employer of every tea plantation shall provide facilities, within easy reach of his
workers, for obtaining their daily necessities.

98. Medical care for newspaper workers :

Every newspaper worker and his dependents shall be entitled to medical care at the cost
of the newspaper establishment in such manner and to such extent as may be prescribed by
rules. 1Section 94A was inserted by section 31 of the Bangladesh Labour (Amendment) Act,
2013(Act No. XXX of 2013).

99. Introduction of compulsory group insurance:

(1) In an establishment where at least 100 (one hundred) permanent workers are employed, the
employer shall introduce group insurance under the existing insurance laws.

(2) The amount claimed as insurance shall be in addition to the other dues of a worker under this
Act: Provided that the recovery of the insurance claim due to death of a worker shall be the
responsibility of the employer and he shall make arrangement for payment of the amount
so recovered from such insurance claim directly to the dependents: Provided further that
notwithstanding anything contrary contained in any other law, where any insurance claim is
made under this section, it shall be settled by joint initiatives of the insurance company and
the employer within 120 (one hundred and twenty) days from the date of raising such claim

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