Factories Act, 1948

 

🏭 Factories Act, 1948

✅ Purpose:
To ensure the health, safety, welfare, and proper working conditions of workers employed in factories.

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📌 Scope & Applicability

• Applies to:

  • Factories employing 10 or more workers with power

  • Factories employing 20 or more workers without power

• Excludes: Mines, mobile units of armed forces, railways (except workshops), and some small establishments.

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🔑 Key Provisions

1️⃣ Health (Sections 11–20):

• Cleanliness, proper disposal of waste

• Ventilation, temperature control

• Prevention of dust, fumes, overcrowding

• Safe drinking water, proper sanitation

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2️⃣ Safety (Sections 21–41):

• Fencing of machinery

• Safety devices for dangerous machinery

• Protection from fire, explosive materials

• Safety of young workers, women

• Appointment of Safety Officers (in large factories)

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3️⃣ Welfare (Sections 42–50):

• Washing and bathing facilities

• Canteens (if more than 250 workers)

• Restrooms, lunchrooms

• Crèches (for women workers with young children)

• Welfare officers (in large factories)

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4️⃣ Working Hours (Sections 51–66):

• Adults:

  • Max 48 hours/week

  • Max 9 hours/day

  • Weekly holiday, rest intervals

• Women:

  • No night shifts (between 7 pm – 6 am, unless state permits)

• Children/Adolescents:

  • Restricted working hours, fitness certificates required

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5️⃣ Annual Leave with Wages (Sections 78–84):

• Workers with 240+ days/year are entitled to paid annual leave.

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🏛️ Administration

• Inspectorate of Factories under State Governments supervises and enforces compliance.

• Chief Inspector, Inspectors, Certifying Surgeons appointed for inspections, safety checks, medical fitness.

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⚠️ Penalties

• Breaches can lead to fines, imprisonment, or both.

• Repeat offences attract higher penalties.

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🔄 Recent Developments

The Factories Act is set to be subsumed under the Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code, 2020, but the new Code has not been fully implemented yet — so the 1948 Act still applies for now.