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Labour Laws
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Labour Laws Part-1
IMPORTANT
You will find a list of Practice Questions, at the end of each chapter. There are two
objectives of these questions:
2. To understand the various types of questions which can be asked from this topic.
Please note that, we also provide a bigger question bank on our Online Test Platform.
Each question on the online test platform includes the answer as well as detailed
explanation. ALL previous years’ questions are covered. ln addition, there are new
questions as well.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Directive Principles of State Policy that directly concern labour welfare, are:
Article 38(1) says that in general the state should "strive to promote the welfare of the people" with a
"social order in which justice, social, economic and political, shall inform all the institutions of
national life. In Article 38(2) it goes on to say the state should "minimise the inequalities in income"
and based on all other statuses.
Article 39 specifically requires the State to direct its policy towards securing the following principles:
(a) Equal right of men and women to adequate means of livelihood.
(b) Distribution of ownership and control of the material resources of the community to the
common good,
(c) To ensure that the economic system should not result in concentration of wealth and
means of production to the common detriment.
(d) Equal pay for equal work for both men and women.
(e) To protect health and strength of workers and tender age of children and to ensure that
they are not forced by economic necessity to enter avocations unsuited to their age or
strength.
(f) That children are given opportunities and facilities to develop in a healthy manner and in
conditions of freedom and dignity and that childhood and youth are protected against
exploitation and against moral and material abandonment.
Pursuant to Article 39 (d), Parliament has enacted the Equal Remuneration Act, 1976.
Article 41 directs the State to ensure the people within the limit of its economic capacity and
development: (a) employment, (b) education, and (c) public assistance in cases of unemployment, old
age, sickness and disablement and in other cases of undeserved want.
Article 42 requires the state to "make provision for securing just and human conditions of work and
for maternity relief".
Article 43 says workers should have the right to a living wage and "conditions of work ensuring a
decent standard of life". Article 43A, inserted by the Forty-second Amendment of the Constitution of
India in 1976, creates a constitutional right to codetermination by requiring the state to legislate to
"secure the participation of workers in the management of undertakings".
Article 43 refers to a "living wage" and not "minimum wage". The concept of living wage includes in
addition to the bare necessities of life, such as food, shelter and clothing, provisions for education of
children and insurance etc.
Article 45 required the State to make provision within 10 years for free and compulsory education for
all children until they complete the age of 14 years.
Article 47 requires the State to raise the level of nutrition and the standard of living and to improve
public health.
Labour Laws Part-1
Matters in respect of which laws are to be made have been distributed in three lists (Seventh Schedule
(Article 246):
(1) Union List
(2) Concurrent List
(3) State List
The Union list includes participation in international conferences, associations and other bodies and
implementing of decisions made there at; regulation of labour and safety in mines and oil-fields; industrial
disputes concerning union employees.
The Concurrent List includes; trade unions; industrial and labour disputes; social security and social
insurance; employment and unemployment; welfare of labour including conditions of work, provident fund,
employers' liability , workmen's compensation, invalidity and old age pensions, and maternity benefits;
vocational and technical training of labour in the factories.
PRACTICE QUESTIONS
List - II
1.) Which Article of the Indian Constitution (i) Article 43
guarantees ‘just and humane conditions of work (ii) Article 41
and maternity relief’? (iii) Article 38(1)
(A) Article 41 (iv) Article 42
(B) Article 42 Codes:
(C) Article 43 (a) (b) (c) (d)
(D) Article 45 (A) (i) (ii) (iii)(iv)
(B) (iv) (iii) (ii) (i)
2.) The Directive Principles of State Policy, as (C) (iii) (ii) (i) (iv)
contained in Indian Constitution, contains various (D) (iii) (iv) (i) (ii)
Articles which has influenced the enactment of
social and labour legislations. Match the subject 3.) Which part of the Indian Constitution divides
matters of the Directive Principles with the Article jurisdiction for enactment of Labour Legislations?
Numbers as given in List - I and List - II (A) Distribution of Legislative Power
respectively: (B) Directive Principles of State Policy
List - I (C) Fundamental Rights
(a) Promotion of Welfare of people by securing (D) None of the above
and protecting effectively a social order in which
justice shall inform all institutions of national life. 4.) Which of the following comes under the 'State
(b) Securing just and humane conditions of work List' as provided under the Seventh Schedule of
and for maternity relief. the Constitution of India?
(c) Securing living wage ensuring decent standard (A) Relief of the disabled and unemployable.
of life. (B) Vocational and technical training of labour.
(d) Within the limits of economic capacity, (C) Social security and social insurance.
securing right to work, education and public (D) Welfare of labour including conditions of
assistance in case of unemployment, old age work.
sickness and disablement
ANSWERS
1. B 2. D 3. A 4. A
1) Protective Labor Legislations: The legislations whose primary purpose is to protect minimum labor
standards and improve working conditions are protective labor legislations. Legislations laying down the
minimum labor standards in the areas of work, safety, employment of children and women and also the
manner of wage payment come under this category. The Indian labor laws under this category are:
o The Factories Act, 1948
o The Mines Act, 1952
o The Plantation Labor Act, 1951
o The Motor Transport Workers Act, 1961
o The Shops and Establishment Act passed by various states
o The Payment of Wages Act, 1936
o The Minimum Wages Act, 1948
o The Child Labor (Prohibition and regulation) Act, 1986
o The Contract Labor (Regulation and Abolition) Act, 1970
2) Regulative Legislations: Laws related to Working Hours, Conditions of Service and Employment. The
legislations whose primary purpose is to regulate the relations between employers and employees and to
provide for methods and manners for settling industrial disputes are Regulative Legislations. These laws also
regulate the relationships between workers and trade unions, the rights and obligations of the organizations of
employers and workers, as well as their mutual relationships. The laws under this category are as follows:
o The Trade Unions Act, 1926
o The Industrial Disputes Act, 1947
o The Industrial Employment (Standing Orders) Act, 1946
3) Social Security Legislations: The Legislations which intend to provide social security benefits to the
workmen during certain contingencies of life are Social Security Legislations. Though this, legislations may
cover other classes of citizens also, their primary goal has been to protect the workers. The laws under this
category are as follows:
o The Workmen's Compensation Act, 1923
o The Employees State Insurance Act, 1948
o The Coal Mines Provident Fund and Miscellaneous Provisions Act, 1948
o The Employees Provident Funds and Miscellaneous Provisions Act, 1952
o The Maternity Benefit Act, 1961
o The Payment of Gratuity Act, 1972
4) Welfare Legislations: The legislations which aim at promoting the general welfare of the workers and
improve their living conditions are Welfare legislations. Such laws carry the term “Welfare” in their titles and
provide for the funds, which is spent on improving the general welfare of workers including housing, medical,
educational and recreational facilities. The Laws under this category are as follows:
o Mica Mines Labor Welfare Fund Act, 1946
o Iron Ore Mines, Manganese Ore Mines and Chrome Ore Mines labor Welfare Fund Act, 1976
o Beedi Workers Welfare Fund Act, 1976
Labour Laws Part-1
LABOUR CODES
The Ministry of Labour & Employment is working on to rationalize the provisions of the 43 labour laws into 4
Labour Codes:
(1) Labour Code on Wages: It rationalizes, amalgamates and simplifies the relevant provisions of the
following 4 labour laws:
(i) The Minimum Wages Act, 1948
(ii) The Payment of Wages Act, 1936
(iii) The Payment of Bonus Act, 1965
(iv) The Equal Remuneration Act, 1976
(2) Labour Code on Industrial Relations: This will rationalize, amalgamate and simplify the relevant
provisions of the following 3 labour laws:
(i) The Trade Unions Act, 1926
(ii) The Industrial Employment (Standing Orders) Act, 1946
(iii) The Industrial Disputes Act, 1947
(3) Labour Code on Social Security & Welfare: This will rationalize, amalgamate and simplify the relevant
provisions of the following labour laws:
(i) The Employees' Compensation Act, 1923
(ii) The Employees' State Insurance Act, 1948
(iii) The Employees' Provident Fund and Miscellaneous Provisions Act, 1952
(iv) The Maternity Benefit Act, 1961
(v) The Payment of Gratuity Act, 1972
(vi) The Cine Workers Welfare Fund Act, 1981
(vii) The Building and Other Construction Workers Cess Act, 1996
(viii) The Unorganised Workers' Social Security Act, 2008
(4) Labour Code on Safety and Working Condition will rationalize, amalgamate and simplify the
provisions of 13 labour laws:
(i) The Factories Act, 1948;
(ii) The Mines Act, 1952;
(iii) The Dock Workers (Safety, Health and Welfare) Act, 1986;
(iv) The Building and Other Construction Workers Act, 1996;
(v) The Plantations Labour Act, 1951
(vi) The Contract Labour (Regulation and Abolition) Act, 1970;
(vii) The Inter-State Migrant workmen (Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Service) Act, 1979;
(viii) The Working Journalist and other News Paper Employees Act, 1955;
(ix)The Working Journalist (Fixation of rates of wages) Act, 1958;
(x) The Motor Transport Workers Act, 1961;
(xi) The Sales Promotion Employees (Condition of Service) Act, 1976;
(xii) The Beedi and Cigar Workers (Conditions of Employment) Act, 1966
(xiii) The Cine Workers and Cinema Theatre Workers Act, 1981.
appointment of factory inspectors in units employing fewer than 40. As reported in year 2018, the labour
ministry has decided NOT to move forward with the draft small factories legislation.
PRACTICE QUESTIONS
2.) Which one of the following is based on the 4.) The Ministry of Labour & Employment is
principle of welfare? working on to rationalize the provisions of the 43
(A) Mica Mines Labour Welfare Funds Act labour laws into 4 Labour Codes. Which of the
(B) Iron Ore Mines Labour Welfare Funds Act following is not one of 4 codes?
(C) Dock Workers (Safety, Health, Welfare) Act (A) Code on Family Welfare
(D) All of above (B) Code on Industrial Relations
(C) Code on Social Security & Welfare
3.) Match the following: (D) Code on Safety and Working Condition
List – I
a. The Plantation Labour Act, 1951 5.) The Code on Wages Bill, 2019 was passed by
b. The Trade Unions Act, 1926 the Parliament in August 2019. Which of the
c. The Payment of Gratuity Act, 1972 following is not one of the 4 Acts being subsumed
d. Beedi Workers Welfare Fund Act, 1976 in the Code?
List – II (A) The Payment of Wages Act, 1936
i. Welfare Legislation (B) The Minimum Wages Act 1948
ii. Social Security Legislation (C) The Payment of Bonus Act, 1965
iii. Protective legislation (D) None of above
iv. Regulative legislation
ANSWERS
1. D 2. D 3. D 4. A 5. D
Sec. 2- DEFINITIONS
Commissioner means a Commissioner for Employee’s Compensation Act.
But DOES NOT include any person working in the capacity of a member of the Armed Forces of the Union.
Any reference to any employee shall include a reference to his dependants, where the employee is dead.
The State Government or the Central Government may add any class of persons employed in any occupation
which it is satisfied is a hazardous occupation, to Schedule II, with notice of 3 months.
Minor means a person who has not attained the age of 18 years.
(b) where the disablement is permanent: if such disablement reduces the earning capacity in every
employment which he was capable of.
Provided that every injury specified in Part II of Schedule-I shall be deemed to result in Permanent Partial
Disablement.
Total disablement means, whether of a temporary or permanent nature as incapacitates an employee for all
work which he was capable of performing at the time of the accident resulting in such disablement:
Provided that Permanent total disablement shall be deemed to result from every injury specified in
Part I of Schedule I or from any combination of injuries specified in Part II thereof where the
aggregate percentage of the loss of earning capacity as specified in the said Part II against those
injuries amount to 100% per cent or more;
Note: In case of temporary partial disablement, the disablement results in reduction of earning capacity in
respect of “only that employment in which he was engaged” at the time of accident, which means the
workman’s earning capacity in relation to other employments is not affected.
But in case of permanent partial disablement, the disablement results in reduction in his earning capacity is
not only the employment in which he was engaged at the time of accident but in all other employments as
well.
Seaman means any person forming part of the crew of any ship but does not include the master of ship.
Wages includes any privilege or benefit which is capable of being estimated in money other than a
traveling allowance
contribution paid by the employer of an employee towards any pension or provident fund
Any special expenses entailed on him by the nature of his employment.
Workman means any person (except employment of casual nature) employed for the purposes of the
employer' s trade or business and INCLUDES:
a railway servant as per Indian Railways Act, 1890
but EXCLUDES
Permanently employed in any administrative, district or sub- divisional office of a railway
Employed in any such capacity as is specified in Schedule II
Working in Armed Forces
The State Government or the Centre Government may add any class of persons employed in any occupation
which it is satisfied is a hazardous occupation, to Schedule II, with notice of 3 months.
As per Amendment in 2017, the penalty amount has been increased from a maximum of Rs. 5000 to a definite
penalty of Rs. 50,000 which may be further extended to Rs. 1 lakh.
Unless the complaint is made within 6 months of the date from it came to the knowledge of the
“Commissioner”, no Civil Court shall take cognizance of any offence.
APPOINTMENT OF COMMISSIONERS
Sec. 20- The State Government may, may appoint any person, as Commissioner, who is
a member of a State Judicial Service for a period of not less than 5 years
an advocate or a pleader for not less than 5 years
Gazetted officer for not less than 5 years having educational qualifications and experience in
personnel management, human resource development and industrial relations
Sec. 22- In case of accident, a claim for compensation will be made to the Commissioner in prescribed format.
Sec. 23- The Commissioner shall have all the powers of a Civil Court under the Code of Civil Procedure.
Civil Courts shall NOT have any jurisdiction to settle matters, which is dealt or decided by the Commissioner.
Sec. 25A- The Commissioner shall dispose of the claims relating to compensation within 3 months.
REGISTRATION OF AGREEMENTS
Sec. 28- Where any compensation has been settled by agreement (lump sum, half-monthly, or any other)
between employer and employee, the Commissioner, shall record the memorandum in a register BUT only
after 7 days’ notice to all parties concerned.
The Commissioner may at any time rectify the register, if agreement having been obtained by fraud or undue
influence or other improper means.
Sec. 29- If employer fails to send the agreement to the Commissioner (for registration), the employer shall be
liable to pay the full amount of compensation.
No appeal can be made unless a substantial question of law is involved in the appeal, and or the amount in
dispute in the appeal is not less than Rs 300.
As per Amendment in 2017, appeals can be made against orders related to compensation, distribution of
compensation, award of penalty or interest, only if the amount in dispute is at least Rs 10,000. The same has
been revised from the earlier minimum amount of Rs 300.
The appeal can be made within 60 days from the day of order of the Commissioner.
LIST OF SCHEDULES
Schedule I- Part I: List of injuries deemed to result in Permanent Total Disablement
Schedule I- Part II: List of injuries deemed to result in Permanent Partial disablement
Schedule II: List of persons who, are included in the definition of Workmen (Employee)
Schedule III: List of occupational diseases
Schedule IV: Relevant factors for working out compensation amount in case of permanent
disablement and death. (It depends on the age on the last birthday of the employee immediately
preceding the date on which the compensation fell due)
The list of Occupational Diseases is given in Schedule III. The important ones are:
(Bronchopulmonary metal alloys, whose major components cutting and sharpening metals,
diseases) are tungsten carbide and cobalt or cobalt drilling wells, polishing diamond
and diamond and dental prostheses
PRACTICE QUESTIONS
ANSWERS
1. B 2. D 3. B 4. C 5. B 6. D 7. C 8. C 9. C 10. A 11. D 12. B 13. C
14. C 15. B 16. D 17. B 18. C
Sec. 2- DEFINITIONS
Appropriate Government will be the Central Government in relation to any industrial disputes concerning
any of:
(a) industry under the Central Government, or under a railway company or
(b) a Dock Labour Board or
(c) the Industrial Finance Corporation of India Limited or
(d) the Employees’ State Insurance Corporation or
(e) the Board of Trustees constituted under the Coal Mines Provident Fund and Miscellaneous Provisions Act,
1948 or
(f) the Central Board of Trustees and the State Boards of Trustees constituted under the Employees’ Provident
Fund and Miscellaneous Provisions Act, 1952 or
(g) the Life Insurance Corporation of India or
(h) the Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Limited or
(i) Deposit Insurance and Credit Guarantee Corporation or
(j) the Central Warehousing Corporation or
(k) the Unit Trust of India or
(l) the Food Corporation of India
(m) the Airports Authority of India or
(n) a Regional Rural Bank, or
(o) the Export Credit and Guarantee Corporation Limited or
(p) the Industrial Reconstruction Bank of India or
(q) the Export Credit and Guarantee Corporation Limited or
(r) the National Housing Bank or
(s) an air transport service, or a banking or an insurance company, a mine, an oilfield, a Cantonment Board, or
a major port, any company in which not less than 51% of the paid-up share capital is held by the Central
Government, or the Central public sector undertaking, subsidiary companies set up by the principal
undertaking and autonomous bodies owned or controlled by the Central Government,
The State Government shall be the appropriate Government in relation to any other industrial dispute,
including the State public sector undertaking, subsidiary companies set up by the principal undertaking and
autonomous bodies owned or controlled by the State Government.
In case of a dispute between a contractor and the contract labour employed through the appropriate
Government shall be the Central Government or the State Government, as the case may be, which has control
over such industrial establishment.
Average Pay means the average of the wages payable to a workmen, calculated as:
(i) In the case of monthly paid - Average of 3 complete calendar months.
(ii) In the case of weekly paid - Average 4 complete weeks.
(iii) In the case of daily paid workman - Average of 12 full working days.
Award means an interim or final determination of any industrial dispute by any Labour Court, Industrial
Tribunal or National Tribunal.
Closure means the permanent closing down of a place of employment or part thereof.
Labour Laws Part-1
Controlled Industry means any industry the control of which, by the Union Government has been declared to
the expedient in the public interest. That is, an industry which is controlled by the Central Government. But it
must also be declared by the Central Act to be controlled by the Union.
Industry means any business, trade, undertaking, manufacture or calling of employers and includes any
calling service, employment, handicraft, or industrial occupation or avocation of workmen.
The definition of “industry” was amended in 1982, but it is yet to be notified. The amended definition is:
Industry means any systematic activity carried between an employer and his workmen for the production,
supply or distribution of goods or services with a view to satisfy human wants or wishes. It does NOT include:
any agricultural operation
hospitals or dispensaries
educational, scientific, research or training institutions
institutions engaged in any charitable, social or philanthropic service
khadi or village industries
Government relataed sovereign functions including defence research, atomic energy and space
any domestic service
any activity by an individual/individuals, if the number of persons employed is less than 10.
Lay Off means the failure, refusal or inability of an employer to give employment to a workman whose name
is borne on the muster-rolls,
on account of shortage of coal, power or raw materials or the accumulation of stocks
break-down of machinery
natural calamity
for any other connected reason.
If workman presents himself for work at the establishment and is not given employment within 2 hours, he
shall be deemed to have been laid off for that day.
Lock out means the temporary closing of a place of employment or the suspension of work, or the refusal by
an employer to continue to employ any number of persons employed by him.
(vi) any industry specified in the First Schedule which the appropriate Government may, if satisfied
that public emergency or public interest so requires, by notification in the Official Gazette, declare to
be a public utility service for the purposes of this Act, for such period as may be specified in the
notification
Retrenchment means termination of the service of a workman for any reason whatsoever, otherwise than as a
punishment inflicted by way of disciplinary action, but does NOT include:
(a) voluntary retirement of the workman; or
(b) retirement of the workman on reaching the age of superannuation
(b) termination of the service of the workman as a result of the non-renewal of the contract of
employment
(c) termination of the service of a workman on the ground of continued ill-health.
Strike means a cessation of work by a body of persons employed in any industry acting in combination, or a
concerted refusal, or a refusal under a common understanding, of any number of persons who are or have been
so employed to continue to work or to accept employment;
Trade union means a trade union registered under the Trade Unions Act, 1926.
Unfair labour practice means any of the practices specified in the Fifth Schedule under this Act.
Wages means all remuneration capable of being expressed in terms of money, be payable to a workman in
respect of his employment. It includes -
(i) Allowances (including dearness allowance);
(ii) Value of any house accommodation, or of supply of light, water, medical attendance or other
amenity like food.
(iii) Traveling concession;
(iv) Any commission payable on the promotion of sales or business or both.
But it DOES NOT include
(i) any bonus;
(ii) any contribution towards pension fund or provident fund.
(iii) any gratuity payable.
Workman means any person (including an apprentice) employed in any industry to do any manual, unskilled,
skilled, technical, operational, clerical or supervisory work. But it DOES NOT includes
(i) who is subject to the Air Force Act, 1950, or the Army Act, 1950, or the Navy Act, 1957 or
(ii) who is employed in the police service or as an officer or other employee of a prison; or
(iii) who is employed mainly in a managerial or administrative capacity; or
(iv) who, being employed in a supervisory capacity, draws wages exceeding Rs 10,000 per mensem
or exercises.
As per Amendment in 2010, Supervisors drawing wages not exceeding Rs. 10,000 per month are coming
within the definition of workmen. Earlier this limit was Rs 1600 per month.
Chapter II: AUTHORITIES UNDER THIS ACT (machinery for conciliation and adjudication