1. Labour Welfare

2. Labour Welfare - Concept
Robert Orwell was the father of Labour Welfare Administration.
Welfare includes anything that is done for the comfort and improvement of employees and is provided over and above the wages. Welfare helps in keeping the morale and motivation of the employees high so as to retain the employees for longer duration. The welfare measures need not be in monetary terms only but in any kind/forms.
Labour welfare includes monitoring of working conditions, creation of industrial harmony through infrastructure for health, industrial relations and insurance against disease, accident and unemployment for the workers and their families, services, facilities and amenities like canteens, rest and recreational facilities, sanitary and medical facilities, arrangements for travel to and from place of work, accommodation of workers etc enabling the persons employed to perform their work in healthy, congenial surroundings and conducive to good health.
Labor welfare has the following objectives:
To provide better life and health to the workers
To make the workers happy and satisfied
To relieve workers from industrial fatigue and to improve intellectual, cultural and material conditions of living of the workers.

3. Importance of Labour Welfare
Providing welfare schemes helps to create efficient, healthy, loyal and satisfied labor force in the organization. The purpose of providing such facilities is to make their work life better and also to raise their standard of living.
The important benefits of welfare measures can be summarized as follows:
They lead to better physical and mental health of workers and thus promote a healthy work environment
Housing schemes, medical benefits, education and recreation facilities for workers’ families help in raising their standards of living. Workers pay more attention towards work and this increases their productivity.
By providing welfare facilities employers get a more stable labor force as workers take active interest in their jobs and work with a feeling of involvement and participation.
Employee welfare measures increase the productivity of organization and promote healthy industrial relations thereby maintaining industrial peace.
The social evils prevalent among the labors such as substance abuse, etc are reduced to a greater extent by the welfare policies.

4. Basic Features
The basic features of labor welfare measures are as follows:
Labor welfare includes various facilities, services and amenities provided to workers for improving their health, efficiency, economic betterment and social status.
Welfare measures are in addition to regular wages and other economic benefits available to workers due to legal provisions and collective bargaining
Labor welfare schemes are flexible and ever-changing. New welfare measures are added to the existing ones from time to time.
Welfare measures may be introduced by the employers, government, employees or by any social or charitable agency.
The purpose of labor welfare is to bring about the development of the whole personality of the workers to make a better workforce.
It is the work usually undertaken within the premises or in the vicinity of the undertakings for the benefit of the employees and members of their families.
It is a broad term which covers social security along with items like medical aid, crèches, canteens, recreation, housing, adult education etc

5. Need for Labour Welfare
The need for labour welfare arises from the very nature of the industrial system characterised by 2 basic factors-
The conditions under which the work is carried on are not congenial for health
When a laborer joins an industry, he has to work in an entirely strange atmosphere, which creates problems of adjustments.
The need was emphasized in free India, by the Constitution of India in
Article 41: The State shall within the limits of its economic capacity and development, make effective provision for securing the right to work, to education and to public assistance in cases of unemployment, old age, sickness and disablement and in other cases, of undeserved want.
Article 42: The State shall make provision for securing just and humane conditions of work and for maternity relief.
Article 43: The State shall endeavour to secure, by suitable legislation or economic organisation or in any other way, to all workers, agricultural, industrial or otherwise, work , a wage, conditions of work ensuring a decent standard of life and full enjoyment of leisure and social and cultural opportunities; and in particular, the State shall endeavour to promote cottage industries on an individual or co-operative basis in rural areas.

6. Aims of Labour Welfare Work
The labour Welfare Work aims at providing such service facilities and amenities as would enable the employees to perform their work in healthy, congenial surroundings conducive to good health and high morale.
Its aim is partly humanistic as it enables the workers to enjoy a fuller and richer life
It is partly economic because it improves the efficiency of the worker and keeps him contented. It minimises strikes or protests
It is partly civic because it develops a sense of responsibility and dignity aiming the workers and thus makes them worthy citizens of the nation.

7. Approaches to Labour Welfare
The issues of labour welfare may be studied from different angles-
The location, where the amenities are provided, within and outside the industrial undertakings. This has been classified in 2 categories
Intramural - within the organisation
Extra mural – outside the organisation
The nature of amenities such as
a. ‘conditions of employment’ – hours of work, wages, holiday with pay, rest intervals, sanitation, safely, recruitment of female, child labour etc
b. ‘living conditions of work people’ – cooperative societies, legal & medical aids, housing etc
The welfare activities are classified into 3 categories
Statutory – Their implementation depends on the coercive power of the government. The govt. enacts certain laws for the provision of labour welfare and the employers have to observe the rules
Voluntary – Welfare activities that the employers, or philanthropic bodies e.g. Y.M.C.A. or Trade Unions undertake on a voluntary basis
Mutual – All parties join hands together to bring about social and economic upliftment of workers.

8. Intramural and Extramural Activities
Intra-mural – Welfare amenities within the precincts
Drinking water
Toilets
Crèche
Rest rooms
Health services
Washing facilities
Occupational safety
Uniforms and protective clothing
Shift allowance
Canteen
Recreation facilities
Extra-mural - Welfare amenities outside the organisation
Social insurance (gratuity, pension, PF, etc.)
Benevolent fund
Maternity benefits
Health and medical facilities
Education facilities
Housing facilities
Recreation facilities
Leave travel facilities
Workers cooperatives
Vocational training
Transport to and from place of work l

9. Scope of labour welfare works
Some of the items under which welfare work should be conducted are:
Conditions of work environment – sanitation, cleanliness, humidity, ventilation, lighting, sitting arrangements, operative postures, rest time, breaks, drinking water etc
Workers’ health service –factory health centres, dispensary, medical examinations, woman & child welfare work, crèches, family welfare, education provision, cultural activities etc
Labour welfare programme – factory council, arbitration council, social welfare departments etc
Labour’s economic welfare programmes – cooperatives, fair price shops, health insurance, bonus schemes, transport facilities etc
General welfare work – housing and family care

10. Techniques of Labour Welfare Work
For the purpose of welfare work the labourer and his family need to be treated as one unit, while the respective needs of each have also to be kept in mind. Every item of welfare work should be linked as progressive activities i.e. one activity must be related to another simultaneously or as the next step.
The workers should be actively associated in welfare work and every activity should be conducted with their full consent and cooperation.
It is essential for formation of bipartite welfare committee consisting of representatives of workers and management. The committee should be entrusted with the duties of formulating programmes and carrying them out. This creates confidence in the minds of workers and once the welfare work is achieved the workers themselves plan and carry out the welfare schemes.
The welfare officer who is in charge of the welfare function should correct, discipline, guide, counsel, instruct and inspire the welfare committee.

11. Labour Welfare Activities undertaken in India:
Indian Organisations – Various types of labour welfare activities undertaken by Indian organisations are related to – Educational facilities to children, medical facilities, transport facilities, recreational facilities, housing facilities, consumer cooperative societies. Great stress is now laid on supply of nutritive meals at subsidized rates, fair price grain shops, preventive health measures etc
Workers’ Organisation – Most Indian Trade Unions have not been able to provide much welfare to its community. Some of the organisations that have done notable work in the field of labour welfare are – The Textile Labour Association of Ahmedabad, The Mill Mazdoor Union, Indore, The Mazdoor Sabha, Kanpur, The Railwaymen’s, Union, Indian Federation of Labour, U.P., The Rashtriya Mill Mazdoor Sangh, Bombay.
Government – Labour Welfare has been included in all the Five Year Plans. The Government of India has also laid down elaborate provisions for labour welfare under various labor laws – The Factories Act, 1948, The Plantations Act, 1951, The Mines Act, 1951, The Motor Transport Workers Act, 1961, The merchant Shipping Act, 1958, The Dock Worker’s Scheme,1961, The Contract Labour Act, 1970, The Inter State Migrant Workmen Act, etc

12. Important Welfare Laws
The Factories Act, 1948
The Plantations Act, 1951
The Mines Act, 1951
Workmen’s Compensation Act, 1923
Maternity Benefit Acts,
The Industrial Disputes Act, 1947
The Employees State Insurance Act, 1948
Employees Provident Fund (EPF) Act, 1952
Employees Family Pension Scheme, 1971
Payment of Gratuity Act, 1972
Central Government Health Scheme, 1954
The Motor Transport Workers Act, 1961
The Merchant Shipping Act, 1958
Dock Worker’s (Safety, Health and Welfare) Scheme, 1961
The Contract Labour (Regulation and Abolition) Act, 1970

13. Some of the statutory acts dealing with labour welfare
Workmen’s Compensation Act, 1923
Maternity Benefit Acts,
Coal Mines Provident Fund and Bonus Scheme Act, 1948
The Scaman’s Provident fund Act, 1966
The Plantation Labour Act, 1951
The Industrial Disputes Act, 1947
The Employees State Insurance Act, 1948
Employees Provident Fund (EPF) Act, 1952
Employees Family Pension Scheme, 1971
Payment of Gratuity Act, 1972
Central Government Health Scheme, 1954
Deposit Linked Insurance Scheme, August, 1976

14. Labour Welfare Officer
The post of labour welfare officer was instituted initially to
Eliminate the evils and malpractices in the recruitment of labour
Develop and improve labour administration
Serve as a liaison with the State Labour Commissioner
The legislative provision for the appointment of welfare officers under the factories act was made in 1948 under Section 49 (1) and (2)

15. Qualifications and functions of labour welfare officer
Qualifications - A labour officer should have
A university degree
Degree or diploma in social sciences or social work or social welfare from any recognised institution
Adequate knowledge of the language spoken by a majority of the workers in the area where the organisation is situated
Functions –
Supervision of safety, health and welfare programmes, working of joint committees, redressal of workers’ grievances
Counselling workers on personnel and family problem, their rights & privileges
Advising management regarding labour & welfare policies, training programmes, fringe benefits etc
Establishing liaison with workers to understand their needs, limitations etc
Working with management and workers to maintain harmonious industrial relations, improve productivity
Working with public for proper enforcement of various Acts, use of community services etc.

16. Ethical Codes & Industrial Relations
Business ethics is a form of professional ethics that examines ethical principles and moral or ethical problems that arise in a business environment. It applies to all aspects of business conduct and is relevant to the conduct of individuals and entire organizations.
Ethical Codes are statements of the ethical principles, values and behaviours expected of employees and employers in an industrial organisation. It is intended to assist workers and management to identify and resolve ethical issues that might arise during their employment or in the course of their work. It is designed to guide them in their dealings with colleagues, superiors, juniors and also the community.
The Industry is a complex organisation comprising diverse groups that have different relationships to one another. It is essential that all members recognise and respect not only their own rights and responsibilities, but also the rights and responsibilities of other members within the industry.
Ethical Codes are generally based on three universal ethical principles. These are:
Equity and Justice - People are to be treated fairly – not discriminated against, abused or exploited. Justice is concerned with power sharing and preventing the abuse of power. In a just organisation all members can access opportunities that allow for their full participation in the work place.
Respect for People - People should be treated as individuals with rights to be honoured and defended. Respect empowers others to claim their rights and to achieve their potential. Respect for the rights of other people is the basis on which individuals become members of the industry and accept their social responsibilities to behave with integrity.
Personal and Professional Responsibility - The principle of taking personal and professional responsibility requires that they exhibit courteous behaviour by upholding the standards expected of all members of the Industry as part of achieving a common goal. They are expected to protect the rights of others and respect the diversity of cultures and peoples. Those well-positioned to assert their rights have a reciprocal duty to exercise care towards those who depend on them for their well-being.

17. Ethical Codes leads to good Industrial Relations
It provide direction to employers and employees around expected conduct in the Industry;
Assist members in dealing with ethical issues in ways that reflect the organisation’s values and standards;
Promote professionalism and excellence;
Express shared assumptions and organisational values;
Provide workers and management with direction in ethically ambiguous situations;
Detail the Organisation’s social responsibilities; and
Provide a statement on public accountability and corporate governance.