The Factories Act of 1948 aimed to regulate labor conditions and protect worker health and safety in factories across India. The key goals of the act were to ensure proper sanitation, cleanliness, ventilation, lighting and drinking water in factories. It also had provisions around safety measures for machinery, restrictions on hazardous work by children and women, and regulated working hours for adults, children and women. The act applied to any premises with 10 or more workers using power-driven machines or 20 or more workers without power-driven machines.

1. The Factories
Act, 1948
Presented by:
Siddhesh Vijay Lakhan(13)

2. • Need for the act – working conditions
• Extent and application of the act
• Object of the act
• Health, welfare and safety of workmen
• Working hours of adults and annual leave with wages
• Employment of women and young persons
The Factories Act, 1948 2
Labour Legislations 1/10/2012

3. • Factory means any premises –
I. Whereon 10 or more workers are/were working on any
day of the preceding 12 months, and in any part of
which manufacturing process is carried on with the aid
of power
II. Whereon 20 or more workers are/were working on any
day of the preceding 12 months, and in any part of
which manufacturing process is carried on without the
aid of power
What is a Factory ? 3
Labour Legislations 1/10/2012

4. 1. Adult: A person who has completed his 18th year of age
2. Adolescent: A person who has completed his 15th year of age
but has not completed 18
3. Child: A person who has not completed his 15th year of age
4. Young person: A person who is either a ‘child’ or an
‘adolescent’
5. Occupier: Ultimate control over the affairs of the factory
Some imp definitions 4
Labour Legislations 1/10/2012

5. 1. Cleanliness
2. Disposals of waste and effluents
3. Ventilation and temperature
4. Dust and fumes
5. Artificial humidification
6. Overcrowding
7. Lighting
8. Drinking water
9. Latrines and urinals
10. Spittoons
Provisions ensuring
health 5
Labour Legislations 1/10/2012

6. 1. Fencing of machinery
2. Work on near machinery in motion
3. Employment of young persons on dangerous machines
4. Hoists and Lifts
5. Lifting machines, chains, ropes and lifting tackle
6. Floors, stairs and means of access
7. Excessive weights
8. Protection of eyes
9. Precaution against dangerous fumes
10. Safety officers
Safety provisions 6
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7. 1. Washing facilities
2. Facilities for storing and drying clothing
3. Facilities for sitting
4. First-aid appliances
5. Canteens
6. Shelters, restrooms and lunchrooms
7. Creches
8. Welfare officers
Provisions for welfare of
workers 7
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8. • Weekly hours: No adult worker shall be required to work
in a factory for more than 48 hours in a week
• Daily hours: Not more than 9 hours in any day
• Intervals for rest: No work for more than 5 hours
continuously without a break of 30 mins
• Extra wages for overtime: wages at twice the ordinary
rate
Working hours of adults 8
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9. • No child shall be permitted to work in a factory
• For more than 4 and ½ hours in any day
• During the night
• (Night means a period between 10 pm to 6 am)
• Period of work of children limited to 2 shifts
• Child workers entitled to weekly holidays
• Female child worker can work only between 8 am to 7 pm
Working hours for
children 9
Labour Legislations 1/10/2012

10. • Not more than 48 hours in any week or not more than 9
hours in any day
• Only allowed to work between 6 am to 7 pm
• Some variations possible in the timings
• But no variation shall allow between 10pm - 5 am
Working hours for women 10
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11. 11
Labour Legislations 1/10/2012