4.

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.
 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</zzz>, 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).

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