02-01-2013, 12:51 PM
HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT OF LABOUR WELFARE
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INTRODUCTION
Labour welfare activity in India was largely influenced by humanatarian principles and legislation.
During early period of industrial development ,efforts towards worker’s welfare was made largely by social workers, and other religious leaders,mostly on humanatarian grounds.
Before the introduction of welfare and other legislation in India,the conditions of the labour were miserable.
Exploitation of child labour ,long hours of work,bad sanitation and absence of safety measures were the regular features of factory life.
The earliest legislative approach could be traced back to the passing of the Apprentice Act,1850.
The next Act was the Fatal Accidents Act, which aimed at providing compensation to the families of the workers who lost their life as a result of actionable wrong.
Next was Merchants Shipping Act,1859,which regulated the employment of seaman and provided for their health,accomodation and necessary articles of personal use.
BEFORE INDEPENDENCE
The movement to improve the working conditions of Indian labour started with the passing of the first Indian factories Act in 1881.
The deplorable conditions in which labour worked in the textile mills in Bombay during those days, as testified by the Factory commission of 1875 was the immediate cause of passing of the Act.
The Act applied to factories employing not less than 100 persons and using power.
Under this Act the employment of the children below the age of 7 years was prohibited while those between 7-12 years were not to work for more than 9 hours a day.
An hour’sdaily rest and 4 holidays in a month were prescribed for children.
The mulock commission was appointed by the Government of Bombay in 1884 to review the working of the Factories Act,1881.
Mr.N.M Lokhande founder of the “Bombay Mill Hands Association” brought the workmen together on two different occasions in 1884 and presented on their behalf a charter of demands to the commission.
Under pressure from labour the Bombay Millowners Association conceded the demand for a week holiday.
AFTER INDEPENDENCE
After independence ,the labour welfare movement acquired new dimensions .
It was realized that labour welfare had a positive role to play in increasing productivity and reducing industrial tensions.
The state began to realize its social responsibilities towards weaker sections of the society.
The emergence of different central trade union organizations like INTUC,HMS,UTUC,BMS,CITU,NLO, gave further flip to the growth of labour welfare movement.
On the basis of the recommendations of the Rege committee ,the Government of India enacted the Factories Act ,1948.
To draft the important piece of legislation the service of Sir Wilfrid were utilized.