The Factories Act of 1948 defines a factory as an establishment with 10 or more workers using power or 20 or more without power. It covers health, safety, welfare and working conditions. Key provisions include a minimum space of 500 cubic feet per worker, restrictions on hazardous work for women and children, a maximum 48-hour workweek and 9-hour day with breaks, and leave entitlements. The Act also covers occupational diseases, hazardous processes, and was amended in 1976 and 1987 to expand definitions and increase protections.

1. THE FACTORIES ACT
(1948)

2. 1}SCOPE
 The Act defines factory as an establishment employing
10 or more workers where power is used, and 20 or
more workers where power is not used.
 There is no distinction between perennial and seasonal
factories.
 The 1976 amendment modifies the definition of the
term “worker” so as to include within its meaning
contract labour employed in the manufacturing
process.
 The Act applies to the whole of india except the state
of jammu and kashmir.

3. 2}HEALTH,SAFETY AND WELFARE
 The Act provides for the treatment of wastes and effluents so
as to render them innocuous, and for their disposal, the
elimination of dusts and fumes, the provision of spittoons,
control of temperature, supply of cool drinking water during
summerand for the employment of cleaners to keep the
water closets clean.
 A minimum of 500 cu.ft of space for each worker has been
prescribed.
 The Act provides that no worker shall be required to lift or
carry loads which are likely to cause him injury.
 The Act contains a separate chapter relating to specific
welfare measures,e.g: washing facilities,facilities for storing
and drying clothes,etc.

4. • The Act specifies that wherein more than 250
workers are ordinarily employeed, a canteen
shall be provided.
• The 1976 amendment provides for creches in
every factory wherein more than 30 women
workers are ordinarily employed.
• In a factory,wherein 500 or more workers are
ordinarily employed, there should be a
welfare officer.

5. 3}EMPLOYMENT OF YOUNG PERSONS
• The Act prohibits employment of children below the age of
14yrs and declares persons between the ages 15 and18 to be
adolescents.
• Adolescents should be duly certified by the “certifying
surgeons” regarding their fitness for work.
• Restrictions have been laid down on employment of women
and children in certain dangerous occupations.
• Child who has not completed his 14 year of age has been
restricted from employment in any factory .

6. 4}HOURS OF WORK
 The Act has prescribed a maximum of 48 working hours per
week, not exceeding 9 hours per day with rest for atleast ½
hour after 5 hours of continuous work.
 For adolescents the hours of work have been reduced from 5
to 4 ½ per day.
 The 1976 amendment makes a provision to increase the
spread-over period of work of an employee in a factory upto
12 hours from the existing 10 ½ hours.
 The total number of hours of work in a week including
overtime shall not exceed 60.

7. 5}LEAVE WITH WAGES
• The Act lays down that besides weekly holidays, every worker
will be entitled to leave with wages after 12 month’s
continuous service at the following rate; adult- one day for
evevry 20 days of work, childern- one day for every 15 days of
work.
• The leave can be accumulated up to 30 days in case of adults
and 40 days in case of children.

8. 6}OCCUPATIONAL DISEASES
 It is obligatory to the part of the factory management to give
information regarding specified accidents which cause death,
seerious bodily injury or regarding occupational diseases
contracted by employees.
 The Act gives a schedule of notifiable diseases.

9. 7}EMPLOYMENT IN HAZARDOUS
PROCESSES
 The central government has incorporated a new chapter iv-a
by the Factories Act,1987, relating to hazardous processes.
 Site Appraisal Committee consisting of Chief Inspector and
other members, not more than 14 in number, for examination
of service conditions of employees in a factory, involving
hazardous processes, is to be constituted for
recommendations.

10. THANK YOU