Pre- and Post-Independence Employee / Labour Welfare in India

Social workers, philanthropists, and other religious leaders made significant contributions to workers’ welfare throughout the early stages of industrial growth, mostly out of humanitarian concerns. The working conditions in India were appalling prior to the implementation of welfare and other laws. Factory life often included the exploitation of child labour, excessive work hours, poor sanitation, a lack of safety precautions, etc. The Apprentices Act of 1850, which was passed, is considered the first legislative method. The purpose of this statute was to assist underprivileged and orphaned youngsters in learning different crafts and skills. The following law was the Death Accidents Act of 1853, which sought to compensate the families of labourers killed in the line of duty due to “actionable error.” The primary goal of previous legislative measures in this nation was employment regulation.

Prior to Independence

With the passage of the first Indian Factories Act in 1881, the campaign to improve the working conditions of Indian labourers was launched. The initial reason for the Act’s passage was the appalling working conditions that labourers endured in Bombay’s textile mills during that era, as attested by the factory commission of 1875. However, there was no protection of any kind for adult labour. It was deemed insufficient in several aspects. In any case, it acknowledged the government’s authority to protect labour interests via appropriate legislation. As a result, the Bombay government created the Mulock Commission in 1884 to examine how the Factories Act of 1881 was operating.

All factories with 50 or more employees were subject to the Factories (Amendment) Act of 1891. Better ventilation, sanitation, and measures to avoid overcrowding in industries were also included in the provisions. Children were only required to labour six hours a day. It was forbidden to employ women between 7:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m. Eleven hours of labour and 1.5 hours of respite were permitted for women each day. Additionally, a few measures were taken to protect the industrial workers’ health and safety.

The start of the First World War in 1914 brought forth a lot of novel advancements. Both the number of industries and the number of workers rose during the war years (1914–1918). Wages did not increase in line with growing profits and prices. Another significant turning point in the history of the labour welfare movement in our country was the creation of the International Labour Organization (ILO) in 1919. The first national trade union organisation, AITUC, was founded in 1920 and played a significant role in advancing the welfare movement.

The establishment of the Labour Investigation Committee (Rege Committee) in 1944 marked the achievement of yet another significant milestone in the sphere of labour welfare. The committee was tasked with looking into issues pertaining to employment, housing, salaries and earnings, and worker social situations. It included a variety of labour welfare topics, including housing policies, leisure and relaxation, illnesses related to the workplace, assistance for the elderly and bereaved, crushes, canteens, medical assistance, facilities for washing and bathing, educational facilities, etc. This committee brought attention to the significance of worker welfare programmes in enhancing their social and economic lives for the first time in India.

Period Following Independence

The labour welfare movement took on new dimensions after independence. It became apparent that improving labour welfare might contribute to both a rise in production and a decrease in labour disputes. The birth of many major trade union organisations, such as the NLO (1947), CITU (1970), HMS (1943), BMS (1955), and INTUC (1947), further fueled the expansion of the labour welfare movement. The Government of India passed the Factories Act 1948 mostly based on the Rege Committee’s recommendations. Sir Wilfred Garrett was hired to assist in the drafting of this significant piece of law. Thus, on April 1st, 1949, the Factories Act of 1948 went into force.

Various five-year programmes included different labour welfare activities. The wellbeing of the working class was given a lot of consideration throughout the First Five Year Plan (1951–1956). It placed a strong focus on building welfare facilities, preventing industrial disputes, and fostering understanding and goodwill between people. The Employees’ Provident Fund Act of 1952, the Mines Act of 1951, and the Plantations Labour Act of 1951 were all passed during this time.

Labor welfare witnessed considerable advancements under the Second Five Year Plan (1956–1961). Acts were created specifically for motor carriers and sailors. In 1951, a comprehensive programme known as the Dock Workers Safety, Health, and Welfare Program was developed. In 1959, the Assam Tea Plantations Employees’ Welfare Fund Act was enacted by the state government of Assam. Several state governments passed a variety of laws pertaining to industrial housing at this time.

The Third Five Year Plan (1961–1966) placed a strong emphasis on the need of putting several legislative welfare measures into practise. It stressed increased worker productivity and suggested bettering working conditions for employees. During this time, laws such as the Payment of Bonus Act of 1965, the Apprentices Act of 1961, and the Maternity Benefit Act of 1961 were passed.

The Fifth Five Year Plan, which ran from 1974 to 1979, also included labour welfare initiatives. The proposal called for the establishment of safety cells in many states in order to promote industrial safety on a larger scale. A total of Rs. 57 crores was allocated for labour welfare, including employment services and training for artisans.

The Sixth Five Year Plan (1980–1985) made the decision to support particular initiatives that state governments would also need to carry out for the benefit of unorganised workers in both rural and urban regions, including agricultural labourers, artisans, handloom weavers, fishermen, and leather workers. This year, an expenditure of Rs. 161.7 crores was suggested for the labour welfare initiatives.

Despite all of these initiatives, India’s welfare state still falls far short of other nations’ norms. But now that it’s a recognised aspect of working circumstances, it will undoubtedly advance quickly in the years to come, particularly if the Indian Republic is united with the notion of a welfare state with socialist goals