UNIT – 3

LABOUR LAWS

Laws on Working Conditions and Wages

 LABOUR LAWS

The term ‘Labor Legislation’ is used to cover all the laws which have been

enacted to deal with employment and non-employment, wages, working

conditions, industrial relations, social security and welfare of persons

employed in industries.

Thus ‘Labor Legislation’ refers to all laws of the government to provide social and

economic security to the workers.

These acts are aimed at reduction of production losses due to industrial

disputes and to ensure timely payment wages and other minimum amenities to

workers.
 IMPORTANCE AND NECESSITY / NEED OF LABOUR LAWS

(1) Improves industrial relation

(2) Prospects workers form exploitation by the employers

(3) Helps workers in getting fair wages

(4) Minimizes labour unrest

(5) Reduces conflicts and strikes etc.

(6) Ensures job security for workers

(7) Promotes welcome environment conditions in the industrial system

(8) Fixes rest pauses and work hours etc.

(9) Provides compensation to workers, who are victims of accidents.

 LABOUR LAWS
NATURE AND OBJECTIVES

NATURE OF LABOUR LEGISLATION OBJECTIVES OF LABOUR LAWS

 Protect workers
Products of Industrial Revolution
 Preservation of healthy, safety and welfare

Regards Individual as a worker  Strengthen industrial relation

 Fair Wages
Deals with problems of Labor
 Equal Opportunity
It Is Role-Relation
 Protecting Children /Protecting the Disabled
Regulates Conditions of Labor
 Working Hours

 Promote harmony
 PRINCIPLE OF LABOUR LEGISLATION

Principle of Social Justice - Ideal conditions in which all members of a company have

the same basic rights, security, opportunities, obligations and social benefits.

 Principle of Social Equity - Setting up equitable standards for all by means of

legislative provisions and obligations to do so.

 Principle of National Economy- While framing the labour law the general economic

situation of the country has been keep in mind so that object may not be defeated.

 Principle of International Uniformity- International organisations aims at securing

minimum standard in respect of all labour matters associated with the country were

they operate.
 FACILITIES PROVIDED BY LABOUR LEGISLATION

FACILITIES PROVIDED BY LABOUR LEGISLATION

• WELFARE

• HEALTH

• SAFETY
 TYPES OF LABOR LEGISLATIONS
 Protective Labor Legislation
 Regulative Labor Legislation
 Social Security Legislations
 Welfare Legislations
I) Protective Labor Legislations : The legislations
whose primary purpose is to protect minimum
labor standards and improve working conditions
are protective labor legislations. Legislations
laying down the minimum labor standards in the
areas of work, safety, employment of children and
women and also the manner of wage payment
come under this category. The Indian labor laws
under this category are :
1)The Factories Act, 1948,
2)The Mines Act, 1952,
3)The Plantation Labor Act, 1951,
II) Regulative Legislations : The legislations
whose primary purpose is to regulate the
relations between employers and employees
and to provide for methods and manners for
settling industrial disputes are Regulative
Legislations. This laws also regulate the
relationships between workers and trade
unions, the rights and obligations of the
organizations of employers and workers, as
well as their mutual relationships. The laws
under this category are as follows :
1) The Trade Unions Act, 1926,
2) The Industrial Disputes Act, 1947, and
3) The Industrial Employment (Standing
Orders) Act, 1946
 Types Of Labor Legislations
IV) Welfare Legislations: The legislations
III) Social Security Legislations : The Legislations
which aim at promoting the general welfare of
which intend to provide social security benefits to the
the workers and improve their living conditions
workmen during certain contingencies of life are Social
are Welfare legislations. Such laws carry the
Security Legislations. Though this legislations may
term “Welfare” in their titles. The Laws under
cover other classes of citizens also, their primary goal
this category are as follows :
has been to protect the workers. The laws under this
•1) Mica Mines Labor Welfare Fund Act, 1946,
category are as follows:
•2) Iron Ore Mines, Manganese Ore Mines and
1) The Workmen's Compensation Act, 1923,
Chrome Ore Mines labor Welfare Fund Act,
2) The Employees State Insurance Act, 1948,
1976 and
3) The Coal Mines Provident Fund and Miscellaneous
•3) Beedi Workers Welfare Fund Act, 1976. All
Provisions Act, 1948,
of these laws provide for the funds which is
4) The Employees Provident Funds and Miscellaneous
spent on improving the general welfare of
Provisions Act, 1952
workers including housing, medical, educational
5) The Maternity Benefit Act, 1961, and
and recreational facilities.
6) The Payment of Gratuity Act, 1972.
 LAWS in our syllabus
Laws on Working Conditions and Wages

Factories Act 1948

Payment of Wages Act 1936

Minimum Wages Act, 1948.

 Laws on Industrial Relation

Industrial Disputes Act, 1947

Indian Trade Union Act, 1926

Industrial Employment (Standing Orders) Act, 1946.

Laws on Social Security:

Workers Compensation Act, 1923

Maternity Benefit Act, 1961

Employees Provident Fund Act, 1952

Payment of Gratuity Act, 1972

Employees State Insurance Act, 1948.


HEALTH FACILITIES
Section 11.  Cleanliness.
Section 12.  Disposal of wastes and effluents.
Section 13.  Ventilation and temperature.
Section 14.  Dust and fume.
Section 15.  Artificial humidification.
Section 16.  Overcrowding.
Section 17.  Lighting.
Section 18.  Drinking water.
Section 19.  Latrines and urinals.
Section 20.  Spittoons.
SAFETY FACILITIES
Section 21.  Fencing of machinery.
Section 22.  Work on or near machinery in motion.
Section 23.  Employment of young persons on danger
ous machines.
Section 24.  Striking gear and devices for cutting off p
ower.
Section 25.  Self-acting machines.
Section 26.  Casing of new machinery.
Section 27.  Prohibition of employment of women an
d children near cotton-openers.
Section 28.  Hoists and lifts.
Section 29.  Lifting machines, chains, ropes and lifting
tackles.
Section 30.  Revolving machinery.
Section 31.  Pressure plant.
 WELFARE FACILITIES
WORKING HOURS FOR ADULTS
Section 42.  Washing facilities.
Section 43.  Facilities for storing and drying cl  Weekly hours -48 hrs / daily hours;9hrs
othing.
Section 44.  Facilities for sitting.  Weekly holidays- on first day of the week
Section 45.  First-aid appliances.  Interval for rest - half an hour for 5 hrs
Section 46.  Canteens.
 Extra wages for overtime
Section 47.  Shelters, rest rooms and lunch ro
oms.  Spread over – 10½ hours – 12 hours
Section 48.  Creches.
Section 49.  Welfare officers.  Night shifts - holiday for a whole day
Section 50.  Power to make rules to supplem
ent this Chapter.  Notice of periods of work – contrary is not
allowed
 Compensatory holidays