THE NEED FOR LABOUR LAWS
The days where the labourers toiled hard for a pittance are in for a welcome change. Some of the legislations are intended to set the imbalance right. Read on to know more…
The odds have always been stacked against them. Ever since industrialisation became a force to reckon with, the working class has been at the receiving end of the ill treatment meted out to them by their employers. The fact that they were illiterate, unsure of themselves and disunited did nothing to improve their situation. They were systematically exploited and discriminated against by hordes of employers, for whom profits took precedence over everything else, including the health and welfare of a worker.
Workers were made to work for long hours under absolutely inhuman conditions. They were paid a pittance for the work they put in. All too often, a proportion of this pittance was taken away under one pretext or the other.
Workers could do nothing about this injustice. They had no right to discuss the terms and conditions of their employment. The constant influx of migrants, from rural to urban areas in search of employment, ensured that employers were always assured of cheap labour and a submissive working class. Anyone who refused to work under these conditions would lose his job to another worker grateful for the opportunity to earn a living.
The demand for consumer goods rose around the two World wars. Employers felt the need to go in for large-scale production in order to cope with the demand. It was at this time that workers realized that if they were to band together, they would be able to demand more equitable terms and conditions of employment. This realisation led to a demand for higher wages and better working conditions. When employers refused to heed these demands, strikes and lockouts became the commonplace.
Around this time, the government decided to impose some kind of order in this set-up. A number of laws were enacted in order to provide relief to workers and ensure the smooth working of the production process.
Important Acts
The Factories Act was enacted to provide for the safety, health and welfare of the workers.
The Workmen's Compensation Act offered financial benefit in case workers were injured in the course of their working hours.
The Trade Unions Act was meant to facilitate the formation and registration of Trade Unions for the purpose of protecting the rights of the working class.
The Payment of Wages Act ensured that employees' rights were protected in case employers denied them their wages or made unauthorized deductions.
The Employment of Children Act prohibited the employment of children below the age of 15 in certain hazardous trades.
Post-independence, the government decided to take serious steps to protect the rights of the working class. A number of acts were passed. These included the Industrial Disputes Act of 1947, the Minimum Wages Act of 1948, the Employees State Insurance Act of 1948 and the Factories Act of 1948.
The Employees' Provident Fund Act, 1952, was meant to provide family pensions and related benefits to employees.
The Payment of Gratuity Act, 1972, was meant to provide gratuity to workers who have served at least five years in an establishment. This was to be paid on retirement, resignation or death.
Other favourable laws were the Maternity Benefit Act, 1961, the Contract Labour (Regulation and Abolition) Act, 1970, the Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Act, 1976 and the Equal Remuneration Act, 1976.
While the morale of employees was raised as a result of legislation, the vested interests of powerful employers ensured that workers did not always receive the benefit of these laws. Still, the fact that these Acts were passed that spoke of a willingness on the part of the authorities to set the imbalance right.
In the days to come, we will be dealing with each of these laws separately; to see what each Act has promised the working class and the loopholes that have prevented the promises from being implemented
From India, Bahadurgarh
47The days where the labourers toiled hard for a pittance are in for a welcome change. Some of the legislations are intended to set the imbalance right. Read on to know more…
The odds have always been stacked against them. Ever since industrialisation became a force to reckon with, the working class has been at the receiving end of the ill treatment meted out to them by their employers. The fact that they were illiterate, unsure of themselves and disunited did nothing to improve their situation. They were systematically exploited and discriminated against by hordes of employers, for whom profits took precedence over everything else, including the health and welfare of a worker.
Workers were made to work for long hours under absolutely inhuman conditions. They were paid a pittance for the work they put in. All too often, a proportion of this pittance was taken away under one pretext or the other.
Workers could do nothing about this injustice. They had no right to discuss the terms and conditions of their employment. The constant influx of migrants, from rural to urban areas in search of employment, ensured that employers were always assured of cheap labour and a submissive working class. Anyone who refused to work under these conditions would lose his job to another worker grateful for the opportunity to earn a living.
The demand for consumer goods rose around the two World wars. Employers felt the need to go in for large-scale production in order to cope with the demand. It was at this time that workers realized that if they were to band together, they would be able to demand more equitable terms and conditions of employment. This realisation led to a demand for higher wages and better working conditions. When employers refused to heed these demands, strikes and lockouts became the commonplace.
Around this time, the government decided to impose some kind of order in this set-up. A number of laws were enacted in order to provide relief to workers and ensure the smooth working of the production process.
Important Acts
The Factories Act was enacted to provide for the safety, health and welfare of the workers.
The Workmen's Compensation Act offered financial benefit in case workers were injured in the course of their working hours.
The Trade Unions Act was meant to facilitate the formation and registration of Trade Unions for the purpose of protecting the rights of the working class.
The Payment of Wages Act ensured that employees' rights were protected in case employers denied them their wages or made unauthorized deductions.
The Employment of Children Act prohibited the employment of children below the age of 15 in certain hazardous trades.
Post-independence, the government decided to take serious steps to protect the rights of the working class. A number of acts were passed. These included the Industrial Disputes Act of 1947, the Minimum Wages Act of 1948, the Employees State Insurance Act of 1948 and the Factories Act of 1948.
The Employees' Provident Fund Act, 1952, was meant to provide family pensions and related benefits to employees.
The Payment of Gratuity Act, 1972, was meant to provide gratuity to workers who have served at least five years in an establishment. This was to be paid on retirement, resignation or death.
Other favourable laws were the Maternity Benefit Act, 1961, the Contract Labour (Regulation and Abolition) Act, 1970, the Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Act, 1976 and the Equal Remuneration Act, 1976.
While the morale of employees was raised as a result of legislation, the vested interests of powerful employers ensured that workers did not always receive the benefit of these laws. Still, the fact that these Acts were passed that spoke of a willingness on the part of the authorities to set the imbalance right.
In the days to come, we will be dealing with each of these laws separately; to see what each Act has promised the working class and the loopholes that have prevented the promises from being implemented
From India, Bahadurgarh
Hiiiiii
Thanks a lot for such information. myself mandeep i have done MBA in HR specialistion. This is very helpful to me.
Can u plz let me the formula's or the way to calculate gratutiy, p.f, compensation.
Thanks a lot.
From India, Gandhidham
Thanks a lot for such information. myself mandeep i have done MBA in HR specialistion. This is very helpful to me.
Can u plz let me the formula's or the way to calculate gratutiy, p.f, compensation.
Thanks a lot.
From India, Gandhidham
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