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Unit 1: The Factories Act, 1948

(viii) Welfare Officers (Section 49) Notes

In every factory wherein five hundred or more workers are ordinarily employed the occupier
shall employ in the factory such number of welfare officers as may be prescribed. The State
Government may prescribe the duties, qualifications and conditions of service of officers
employed under sub-section (1).

Power to make rules to supplement this Chapter (Section 50).

The State Government may make rules-
 exempting, subject to compliance with such alternative arrangements for the welfare of
workers as may be prescribed, any factory or class or description of factories from
compliance with any of the provisions of this Chapter,
 requiring in any factory or class or description of factories that representatives of the
workers employed in the factories shall be associated with the management of the welfare
arrangements of the workers.

Task As a Manager, how will you bring health, safety and welfare measures to your
employees?

Self Assessment

Fill in the blanks:

10. ...............................of the Factories Act, 1948 provides for general cleanliness of the factory.
11. To eliminate ..............................., the Factories Act, 1948 prescribes that no room of any
factory shall be overcrowded to the extent it is injurious to the health of the workers.

12. ............................... provides that in every factory there shall be provided and maintained,
separate arrangement for toilets for male and female workers at convenient places.

1.5 Provisions regarding Employment of Adults,
Women and Children in Factories

Following are the provisions regarding employment of adults, women and children in factories
are as follows:

1.5.1 Working Hours of Adult Workers

Let us start our discussion with the working hours of adult workers:

(i) Weekly and Daily Working Hours

Sections 51 and 54 contain general provisions regarding weekly and daily working hours.
According to Section 51 no adult worker shall be required or allowed to work in a factory for
more than 48 hours in a week. As regards daily working hours under Section 54, no adult worker
shall be required or allowed to work in a factory for more than 9 hours in a day. But with the
previous approval of the Chief Inspector the daily maximum hours may be exceeded in order to
facilitate and adjust the change of shifts. The above restriction is applicable to ‘workers’ only as
defined in the Act.

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