The Factories Act
FACTORIES ACT The object of the Factories Act is to regulate the conditions of work in manufacturing establishments coming within the definition of the term "factory" as used in the Act. The first Act, in India, relating to the subject was passed in 1881. This was followed by new Acts in 1891, 1911, 1922, 1934 and 1948. The Act of 1948 is more comprehensive than the previous Acts. It contains detailed provisions regarding the health, safety and welfare of workers inside factories, the hours of work, the minimum age of workers, leave with pay etc. The Act has been amended several times. The Act is based on the provisions of the Factories Act of Great
Britain passed in 1937. In 1976 the Act was amended extensively. The provisions of the Amendment have been quoted and summarised at the appropriate .places in this chapter.
APPLICATION OF THE ACT The Factories Act of 1948 came into force on 1st April 1949; it applies to factories, as defined in. the Act, all over India, including the State of Jammu and Kashmir. Unless 'otherwise provided, the Factories Act applies to factories belonging to the Central or any State Government.--Sec. 116.
DEFINITIONS UNDER THE FACTORIES ACT
Factory.
The term Factory is defined in Section 2 (m) of the Act as follows: "Factory means any premises including the precincts thereof-
(i) whereon ten or more workers are working, or were working on any day of the preceding twelve months, and in any part of which a manufacturing process is being carried on with the aid of power or is ordinarily so carried on, or
(ii) whereon twenty or more workers are working, or were working on any day of the preceding twelve months, and in any part of which a manufacturing process is being carried on without the aid of power, or is ordinarily so carried on,
But does not include a mine subject to the operation of the Indian Mines Act, 1952, or a mobile unit belonging to the armed forces of the Union, a railway running
Britain passed in 1937. In 1976 the Act was amended extensively. The provisions of the Amendment have been quoted and summarised at the appropriate .places in this chapter.
APPLICATION OF THE ACT The Factories Act of 1948 came into force on 1st April 1949; it applies to factories, as defined in. the Act, all over India, including the State of Jammu and Kashmir. Unless 'otherwise provided, the Factories Act applies to factories belonging to the Central or any State Government.--Sec. 116.
DEFINITIONS UNDER THE FACTORIES ACT
Factory.
The term Factory is defined in Section 2 (m) of the Act as follows: "Factory means any premises including the precincts thereof-
(i) whereon ten or more workers are working, or were working on any day of the preceding twelve months, and in any part of which a manufacturing process is being carried on with the aid of power or is ordinarily so carried on, or
(ii) whereon twenty or more workers are working, or were working on any day of the preceding twelve months, and in any part of which a manufacturing process is being carried on without the aid of power, or is ordinarily so carried on,
But does not include a mine subject to the operation of the Indian Mines Act, 1952, or a mobile unit belonging to the armed forces of the Union, a railway running