Factories Act 1948
Labour Laws · कारखाना अधिनियम 1948 · 18 facts
Factories Act 1948: Governs working conditions in factories; replaces earlier Factories Act 1934; applies to factories using power (10+ workers) or without power (20+ workers).
Working hours under Factories Act: Maximum 9 hours/day, 48 hours/week; spread over no more than 10.5 hours including rest intervals.
Overtime: Wages at double the ordinary rates for work beyond 9 hours/day or 48 hours/week; maximum overtime 50 hours in a quarter.
Weekly rest: Every worker entitled to 1 full day off in a week (usually Sunday); if Sunday worked, compensatory off within 3 days.
Annual leave with wages: Earned leave — 1 day per 20 days worked (adult worker); 1 day per 15 days for child workers; minimum 12 days/year.
Child labour: Factories Act prohibits employment of children below 14 years; children 14-18 years (adolescent) cannot work in hazardous industries.
Safety provisions: Guarding of machinery, provision of safety appliances, fire escape, safety officers (1000+ workers), safety committee (250+ workers).
First aid: Minimum 1 first aid box per 150 workers; trained first aiders; ambulance room if 500+ workers.
Canteen: Mandatory for factories with 250+ workers; subsidized or free food; factory canteen cannot make profit; managed by workers' committee.
Crèche (child care room): Mandatory in factories where 30+ women workers are employed; for children below age 6; factory must bear expenses.
Welfare Officer: Mandatory if 500+ workers employed; looks after workers' welfare, safety, training, labour-management relations.
Washing facilities: Separate washing facilities for male and female workers; 1 wash station per 25 workers; latrines and urinals mandatory.
Inspectorate of Factories: State government appoints Chief Inspector of Factories; district-level inspectors conduct surprise visits to factories.
Hazardous processes: Special provisions for factories with hazardous processes (Section 41); health surveillance, safety officers, emergency on-site plans mandatory.
Register of factories: Every factory must register with state Inspector of Factories; occupier must furnish annual returns; license required.
Night shift for women: Historically prohibited; many states have allowed night work for women in IT/BPO and other sectors with safety conditions.
Factories Act and OSHWC Code: Factories Act will be replaced by Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code 2020 when enforced by states.
Occupier: Person responsible for factory under Factories Act; usually managing director/owner; legally responsible for compliance with all factory provisions.