Page 86 - DMGT516_LABOUR_LEGISLATIONS

Unit 4: Contract Labour (Regulation and Abolition) Act, 1986

contract labour. The amenities that are required to be provided to the contract labour are given Notes
below:
1. Canteens: In every establishment where work requiring employment of contract labour is
likely to continue for six months and wherein contract labour numbering one hundred or
more is ordinarily employed by a contractor, one or more canteens have to be provided by
the contractor for use of the contract labourers employed by him. Such a canteen or canteens
should be provided within sixty days of the date of commencement of employment of
contract labour. In case, such a contractor fails to provide a canteen within the aforesaid
period, then the same shall be provided and maintained by the principal employer in an

efficient manner. The canteen, so provided, should have a dining hall, kitchen, store-room,

pantry and washing places for workers; sufficient light, smooth and clean floors and lime-
washed kitchen walls. The dining hall must accommodate thirty per cent of the labourers
at a time.
2. Rest Room: It is obligatory on the contractors to provide rest room or other suitable
accommodation at every place, where contract labour is required to halt at night in
connection with the work of an establishment and in which employment of contract labour
is likely to continue for three months or more. The Act further requires making provision
of the following in the rest rooms:
(a) separate rest room to be provided for female employees;

(b) that such rest rooms have adequate ventilation and light, protection against heat,

wind, rain and smooth, hard and impervious floor surface and supply of clean
drinking water.
In case, any contractor fails to provide the above amenities within the stipulated time, then
the same are to “be provided by the principal employer. However, the principal employer
is authorised to recover such expenses from the contractor.”
3. Drinking water and other facilities: It is the duty of every contractor employing contract
labour in connection with the work of an establishment to provide and maintain; (a) a

sufficient supply of wholesome drinking water for the contract labour at convenient places;

(b) a sufficient number of latrines and urinals of the prescribed types so situated as to
be convenient and accessible to the contract labour in the establishment; and (c) washing
facilities.
4. First-aid Facilities: Under Section 19 of the Act and the Rules made thereunder, it
is obligatory on the part of a contractor and on his failure on the part of the principal
employer to provide and maintain a fi rst-aid box so as to be readily accessible during all
working hours at every place where the contract labour is employed.
5. Crèches: In every establishment where twenty or more women are ordinarily employed as
contract labour, there shall be provided two rooms of reasonable dimensions for the use of
their children under the age of six years, one of which for use as a play room and the other
as bedroom for the children. Apart from the above, the Act also enjoins upon the contractor

to provide adequate number of toys and games in the playroom and sufficient number of
cots and bedding in the sleeping room.
Obligations of Principal Employers regarding Payment of Wages

Section 21 –

(1) A contractor shall be responsible for payment of wages to each worker employed by him
as contract labour and such wages shall be paid before the expiry of such period as may be
prescribed.

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