Labour welfare includes policies, programs, and initiatives that enhance the well-being, safety, and working conditions of workers. It aims to address the diverse needs of employees and promote social justice within the workplace. Ensuring worker welfare has become increasingly important for ethical, economic and social reasons. The measures aim to create a work environment where employees are treated with respect, feel valued, and are supported. In this blog post, we will discuss the different aspects of labour welfare measures.
Index:
- What is labour welfare?
- Scope of Labour Welfare
- Facilities covered under Labour welfare
- Objectives of Labour Welfare
- Importance of Labour Welfare Measures
- Benefits, different schemes available in India for labourers.
- Labour Welfare Categories
What is labour welfare?
Labour welfare refers to the efforts made by employers, trade unions, and governmental and non-governmental institutions to ensure the well-being of workers. Welfare measures are provided to enhance the comfort and improve the lives of employees and usually go beyond the basic wages paid to them.
As per the (ILO) International Labour Organization, the term “labour welfare” encompasses the provision of services, facilities, and amenities that are established within or near the workplace to promote a healthy and pleasant work environment for the employees. It includes providing amenities that are conducive to good health and high morale.
Scope of Labour Welfare
Basically, welfare is divided into two parts – (a) Welfare amenities and (B) Welfare services.
(a)Welfare Amenities – Welfare amenities may be provided within the working environment or outside the working environment.
Those amenities provided outside of the establishment, recreation club facility, sports arena, workers’ children education and other related amenities will boost the living standard of the employee.
Other amenities that are provided within the organisation like a good clean and healthy workstation with food, creche facility for child care, food court, and proper safety measures in the workstation will boost the morale of the employees.
(b)Welfare Services – Welfare services encompass a broad range of benefits and services that an employer may provide to their employee. This shall include providing social security, health and accident insurance for the employees, proper training to improve employee work related knowledge and others.
To create a favourable environment for work, it is important to engage in the following activities:
- Proper ventilation, adequate lighting, controlled temperature, and regular cleanliness improve the work environment.
- Facilities for pure drinking water with purification and cooling systems.
- The canteen services are well-maintained and offer good quality food at affordable rates.
- Sufficient separate urinals for men and women, toilets, and clean shower facilities.
- Properly safety measures should be taken while using lifts, elevators, ropes, cranes, and other electrical and dangerous operating equipment.
Facilities covered under Labour welfare
Health Facilities – To maintain worker health, necessary facilities must meet standards.
- Health centres should be provided within the factory for workers’ health checkups.
- For any emergency, doctors should be available inside the factory.
- Free medical checkups and counselling on diet and health should be available for the workers.
- Inside the factory/organisation recreation and sports facilities.
- Education and library services should be provided.
- Women and child welfare facilities.
- Ambulance facilities should be available within the factory for emergencies.
Economic Welfare Facilities –
- Health insurance schemes should be provided to the employees by the employers free of cost.
- Profit sharing scheme and bonus on a regular basis.
- The credit society should provide postal, banking, service, and credit facilities.
- Subsidised consumer goods through cooperative stores, including grains, vegetables, milk, oil, and other daily requirements.
General Facilities of Welfare –
- Providing housing facilities for workers near their work facilities can be highly beneficial for both the workers and the employers.
- Facilities of family planning and family care.
- Transportation facilities should be provided for tours, picnics, and celebrations.
- Facilities for entertainment for workers and their families.
- Indoor and outdoor sports facilities in the residential area.
- Facilities of cleaning and sanitation.
Objectives of Labour Welfare
Following are the objective of labour welfare –
- Increase the standard of living of working-class labourers.
- Improve working conditions for workers at their workplace.
- Provide social justice and equitable treatment of the workers.
- Attract and retain talented employees, reducing turnover rates
- To improve employee satisfaction and morale, it is important to address their needs and concerns.
- Reduce the rate of labour turnover and absenteeism from work.
- Enhance and support the overall improvement of the employee.
- Support employees indirectly by enhancing their overall welfare.
Importance of Labour Welfare Measures
Labour welfare measures improve productivity by promoting the overall development of labour. They improve industrial relations, create a favourable environment for management and workers to execute organisational plans, and achieve common goals.
-
-
Industrial Relation Improvement
Effective implementation of Labour Welfare measures can lead to greater work satisfaction among workers. In turn, this can help improve industrial relations. When workers feel that their work environment and conditions of service have been improved, they are more likely to trust management and maintain industrial peace. Therefore, the proper implementation of such measures is important for maintaining a healthy and productive workplace.
-
Create a Permanent Labour Force
Well-implemented labour welfare measures can limit labour mobility. When workers feel that their welfare is being genuinely taken care of, they are less likely to leave the organisation. This attitude towards welfare measures can help create a stable and permanent labour force, which is crucial for the organisation to implement its plans and programs continuously.
-
Development of the Sense of Belonging
Labour welfare measures help workers feel connected to the organisation, boosting their devotion to work and promoting industrial peace.
-
Benefit to the Society
It measures the benefit of workers with economic and medical facilities, leading to better living standards and health. This happiness and better living standards benefit society as a whole by increasing purchasing power and contributing to general welfare.
-
Improvement in overall productivity and income of employees
It assures workers of reasonable accommodation, proper healthcare, and a suitable work environment, resulting in a contented workforce. This contentment is a great motivation for them to work more efficiently without having to worry about their primary needs. Consequently, their productivity increases, leading to higher earnings and income.
-
Improve Employee Morale
It measures the improvement of workers’ morale, leading to better cooperation with management and fewer vices.
-
Change in Employers’ outlook
Labour welfare measures have improved the relationship between employers and workers, leading to a better work environment. This has even led to some employers allowing workers to participate in management.
-
Benefits and different schemes available in India for labourers.
Few schemes for labour welfare schemes provided by Government of India are listed below;
- Factories Act, 1948
- Mines Act, 1952
- Plantations Labour Act, 1951
- The Merchant Shipping Act, 1958
- Dock Worker Scheme, 1961
- Motor Transport Worker Act, 1961
- The Contract Labour Act, 1970
Many more to see….
Labour Welfare Categories
Following are the major categories of welfare –
- Intra-mural Facilities
- Extra-mural Facilities
- Statutory Facilities
- Mutual Facilities and
- Voluntary
This is the end of our discussion on labour welfare measures. Please share your questions and opinions in the comment box below.
Check out the Related Post-