Scope for employee/Labour welfare in India

Welfare service are divided into two groups:

(a) Welfare services within the premises of the factory (intra-mural) such as drinking and washing facilities, bathing, creche, canteen, rest room, shelter, prevention of fatigue and safety devices and

(b) Welfare amenities outside the establishment (extra-mural) include social security measures like social insurance, social assistance, recreation, sports, workers’ education, etc.

It also includes, cooperative credit societies transportation, housekeeping. Scope of labour welfare takes care of workers’ life from cradle to grave as employees’ state insurance scheme provides medicine to a worker child and provides funeral benefit to a worker after his last minutes in this world. Scope of labour welfare includes statutory and non-statutory welfare amenities which are also increasing day-by-day and in most of workers’ welfare is by and large acceptable to society.

On the whole labour welfare aims at minimizing stress and strains of industrial workers. It observes that workers get clean and neat environment of work. They should get safe working conditions with minimum hazards of work life. They should be able to live a life with dignity, status and self-respect Scope differs from industry-to-industry and country-to-country.

As per 1981 census, women workers constitute about 19 per cent of the total workforce (i.e., 45 million out of 222 million). Out of 45 million a small fraction of about 2 million women workers were employed in the organized sector. They were not covered by any protective labour legislation.

Majority of women are employed in cotton textile, bide making, garment industries, rice mills, tobacco cutting, Cashewnut, matches, construction work, plantations, and household and small-scale industries. On account of scientific and technological development of the country, there is an increase in the employment of women in electronics industries.

The scope of Labour Welfare is very broad because it covers different industries and activities.

However, the researchers have summarized the scope and listed the following facilities covered in the scope are:

Working Environment:

Conducive working environment helps to improve efficiency of workers and includes proper lighting, temperature, ventilation, safety, sanitation, transportation, cleanliness, seating arrangement and canteen facilities. Workplace sanitation and cleanliness is very important for making workplace helpful for workers to work.

Following activities are important to make it conducive for working:

1. Proper ventilation using cross windows and doors, adequate lighting, controlled temperature, regular cleanliness, seating/standing arrangements for working, etc.
2. Proper safety measures for lift, elevators, ropes, cranes, electric and dangerous operating.
3. Sufficient urinals separate for gents and ladies, lavatories and bathing facilities with regular proper cleaning.
4. Proper gardening with watering facilities and cleanliness of surrounding regularly.
5. Pure drinking water facilities with purification and cooling facilities.
6. Well maintained canteen services with good quality of food at nominal rates.

Health Facilities:

Health is wealth. To maintain good health of the workers, the required health facilities should be maintained up to required standard. It includes the following facilities:

1. Health centre for regular check-up for workers and their families should be provided within factory or nearest place.
2. Availability of ambulance service at telephone call itself should be provided in case of emergency.
3. Free and regular medical check-up of workers and counselling regarding health and diet to workers.
4. Availability medical staff and of doctors inside the factory for emergency.
5. Welfare facilities for women and children such as – crèches, checking for pregnancy, etc.
6. Suitable sports and recreation facilities in the premises.
7. Schooling, vocational training facilities and library services

General Welfare Facilities:

1. Housing facilities for workers near to the work facilities.
2. Cleaning and sanitation facilities in housing facilities.
3. To and fro transportation facilities for workers and their children going for schools
4. Sports facilities of indoor and outdoor in the residential location.
5. Family planning and family care counselling.
6. Entertainment facilities in the campus for workers and their families.
7. Transport facilities for tours, picnics and festival celebration.

Economic Welfare Facilities:

1. Subsidized consumer goods including grains, vegetables, milk, oil and other daily requirements through cooperative stores.
2. Banking, postal, services and credit facilities through credit society.
3. Health insurance schemes by employers free of costs.
4. Regular basis bonus and profit-sharing schemes.