Welfare

IMPORTANCE OF LABOUR WELFARE IN INDIA

Compared to other countries, India has much greater need and importance of labor welfare work. Such a condition is caused by certain deficiencies in Indian labor force that are not found in its counterpart in other countries. It is these defects of deficiencies that increase the importance of labor welfare activity in the country. Briefly, the following are the reasons why labor welfare work in India assumes greater importance than in other countries.

1. LACK OF STRONG LABOUR UNION MOVEMENT:

In India, even today the workers are no united into a class. Keeping in view the numbers, labor Union movement is still in its infancy. Even in the labor union that does exist, there is a lack of enlightened leadership, and there is no unity between these unions themselves. In absence of properly organized labor Union the workers can neither, place their demands effectively before the employer, nor can they think clearly and systematically of their own interests. As this is force lacking in India, it is essential that the welfare of laborers in the country be efficiently looked after by the employers and the Government.

1. ILLITERACY:

As compared with other countries, the percentage of educated workers is very low, most of them being illiterate. Consequently, they are not in a position to receive advanced industrial training, understand the problems in industries their own interests and those of nation as a whole. This can prove a source of harm not only to the workers but also to the country. Hence efficient, and become responsible citizens of the country.

1. PROBLEM OF ABSENTEEISM AND MIGRATION:

Compared to the workers of other countries the Indian laborer is more restless and does tendentious towards frequent migration because life in the town does not provide for his needs, and the atmosphere in general does not suit him. Also due to inadequate level of wages the laborer cannot comfortably settle down in one place. This may in turn also give rise to Absenteeism. This workers migratory tendency can be curbed by providing him with adequate facilities and conditions, and this also shows a positive effect over the absenteeism in the factory.

1. LOW LEVEL OF HEALTH AND NUTRITION:

The Indian worker as compared with his counterpart in most European countries is unhealthy and ill fed. This shows a definite affect over the production potential. Hence, he is very great need of inexpensive nutritive food and good facility in case of hospitalization.

1. EXTREME POVERTY:

The percentage of people under the poverty line in our country is comparatively high than other countries. So the standard of living is very low. An Indian workers is unable to provide a healthy living for his family and in the case off female workers she is not provide with assistance in case of need. Hence, the labor welfare has much to do in the country. It must assist them by providing them maternity benefits, in old age i.e., provident fund, pensions and gratuity etc.

1. LACK OF TRAINING:

As the percentage of trained workers in India is very low, it is necessary to have training facilities for such a vast labor force.

1. LACK OF HEALTHY RECREATION:

Healthy recreation is also at a premium in the country, the efficiency of labor force is diminished by energy being employed in all kinds of undesirable channels. Hence, it is essential that recreation and enjoyment of a healthy kind be provided.

1. INDUSTRIAL BACKWARDNESS OF INDIA:

In India, industrial progress is being aimed through the medium of the five year plans, but industrial progress is dependent on the efficiency of the labor force. The welfare work motivates the workers and maintains efficiency and productivity. So, we can say that the importance of these activities is great for India in comparison to western countries.

"During the pre-independence period, industrial relations policy of the British Government was one of laissez faire and also of selective intervention. There were hardly any labour welfare schemes. After independence, labour legislations have formed the basis for industrial relations and social security. These legislations have also provided machinery for bipartite and tripartite consultations for settlement of disputes.

Soon after independence, the government at a tripartite conference in December 1947 adopted the industrial truce resolution. Several legislations, including the following, were enacted to maintain industrial peace and harmony: Factories Act, 1948, Employees State Insurance Act, 1948 and Minimum Wages Act, 1948. The payment of bonus act was passed in 1965.

In the early 1990s, the process of economic reforms was set in motion when the government introduced a series of measures to reduce control on industries, particularly large industries. The workers have opposed economic liberalisation policy for fear of unemployment while entrepreneurs have welcomed it in the hope of new opportunities to improve Indian industries. The new economic policy has directly affected industrial relations in the country, because the government has to play a dual role, one of protecting the interest of the workers, and second to allow a free interplay of the market forces. Economic reforms, by removing barriers to entry, have created competitive markets. Fiscal stabilisation has resulted in drastic reduction in budgetary support to the public sector commercial enterprises while exposing these enterprises to increased competition from private sector.

Labour and Labour Welfare sub-sector consists of six main programmes viz. Labour Administration, Rehabilitation of bonded labour, Assistance to Labour Cooperatives, Craftsmen training programme, Apprenticeship training programme, Employment Services and Sanjay Gandhi Swavalamban Yojana.

Manpower, employment policy and labour welfare in India: post-independence developments:

Many researches has been done in the following themes, such as

1. Manpower: trends and magnitude.

2. Employment policies and programmes.

3. Labour welfare: legal framework and initiatives.

4. Women workers: legislations and empowerment.

5. Industrial relations and labour laws.

6. Restructuring of labour laws: the great debate.

7. Labour laws and welfare: India and ILO.

8. Labour reforms: India and WTO. II. India's Five Year Plans at a glance. III. Edited extracts from India's Five Year Plans on employment and labour related matters (I plan to X plan including mid-term appraisal of the X Plan).

Strengthening of Medical wing of the Directorate of Industrial Safety and Health

There are different types of industries in Maharashtra like heavy and light engineering, heavy and light chemical industries, petrochemicals, pesticides, fertilizers, textile and Electronic Industries. All these pose their own potential hazards, which may cause acute and chronic side effects on the health of the workers. In Maharashtra, the chemical factories which include heavy chemical complexes or small chemical factories which may produce acute effects on the health of the workers to such an extent that it may result in death. Pesticides spilled on the body of the workers are equally dangerous.

Improvement of communications, mobility of Factory Inspectors

For the quick transmission of messages relating to factory accidents, gas leaks, fires and disasters in the area a broad network of office/ residential telephones is an essential-requisite for the Factory Inspector, the concerned Dy.Chief Inspector of Factories, the Chief Inspector and from C.I.F.to higher authorities. Quick transmission of such messages to the area Factory Inspector and others not only facilitates a prompt inquiry into the mishap and its causes but also enables the concerned authorities to bring into action the various control measures in the case of disaster. An outlay for Tenth Five Year Plan 2002-2007 is Rs.150.00 lakh. Out of that an outlay Rs.5.00 lakh is provided for Annual Plan 2002-2003.

Tribal sub-plan area

Labour and labour welfare

Labour sector addresses multi-dimensional socio-economic aspects affecting labour welfare, productivity, living standards of labour force and social security. To raise living standards of the work force and achieve higher productivity, skill up gradation through suitable training is of utmost importance. Manpower development to provide adequate labour force of appropriate skills and quality to different sectors is essential for rapid socioeconomic development. Employment generation in all the productive sectors is one of the basic objectives. In this context, efforts are being made for providing the environment for self-employment both in urban and rural areas. During the Ninth Plan period, elimination of undesirable practices such as child labour, bonded labour, and aspects such as ensuring workers' safety and social security, looking after labour welfare and providing of the necessary support measures for sorting out problems relating to employment of both men and women workers in different sectors has received priority attention.

The Central Board of Workers Education through its regional offices is striving to educate the workers to help to avoid wasteful expenditure, adopting cost effectiveness and by enhancing productivity of qualitative nature. They have been conducting the following programmes:

• Rural Awareness Programme.
• Functional Adult Literacy Classes.
• Short-term programmes for the unorganised sector to educate them on their rights, ethics and hygiene.
• Participative Management.
• Orientation Courses for Rural Educators.
• Leadership Development Programme for Rural Workers.

Planning

Decision making

Objective

Marketing

Financing

THEORIES OF LABOUR WELFARE

The form of labor welfare activities is flexible, elastic and differs from time to time, region to region, industry to industry and country to country depending upon the value system, level of education, social customs, degree of industrialization and general standard of the socio-economic development of the nation. Seven theories constituting the conceptual frame work of labour welfare activities are the following:-

1. The Police Theory: This is based on the contention that a minimum standard of welfare is necessary for labourers. Here the assumption is that without policing, that is, without compulsion, employers do not provide even the minimum facilities for workers. Apparently, this theory assumes that man is selfish and self centered and always tries to achieve his own ends, even at the cost of the welfare of others.

   According to this theory, owners and managers of industrial undertakings get many opportunities for exploitation of labour. Hence, the state has to intervene to provide minimum standard of welfare to the working class.

1. The Religious Theory: This is based on the concept that man is essentially "a religious animal." Even today, many acts of man are related to religious sentiments and beliefs. These religious feelings sometimes prompt an employer to take up welfare activities in the expectation of future emancipation either in this life or after it.

1. The Philanthropic Theory: This theory is based on man's love for mankind. Philanthropy means "Loving mankind." Man is believed to have an instinctive urge by which he strives to remove the suffering of others and promote their well-being. In fact, the labour welfare movement began in the early years of the industrial revolution with the support of philanthropists.

1. The Trusteeship Theory: This is also called the Paternalistic Theory of Labour Welfare. According to this the industrialist or employer holds the total industrial estate, properties, and profits accruing from them in a trust. In other words, the employer should hold the industrial assets for himself, for the benefit of his workers, and also for society. The main emphasis of this theory is that employers should provide funds on an ongoing basis for the well-being of their employees.

1. The Placating Theory: This theory is based on the fact that the labour groups are becoming demanding and militant and are more conscious of their rights and privileges than ever before. Their demand for higher wages and better standards of living cannot be ignored. According to this theory, timely and periodical acts of labour welfare can appease the workers. They are some kind of pacifiers which come with a friendly gesture.

1. The Public Relation Theory: This theory provides the basis for an atmosphere of goodwill between labour and management, and also between management and the public, labour welfare programmes under this theory, work as a sort of an advertisement and help an organization to project its good image and build up and promote good and healthy public relations.
2. The Functional Theory: This is also called the Efficiency Theory. Here, welfare work is used as a means to secure, preserve and develop the efficiency and productivity of labour, It is obvious that if an employer takes good care of his workers, they will tend to become more efficient and will thereby step up production. This theory is a reflection of contemporary support for labour welfare. It can work well if both the parties have an identical aim in view; that is, higher production through better welfare. And this will encourage labour's partcipation in welfare programmes.