LABOUR WELFARE MEASURES AND ITS INFLUENCE ON THE SOCIO ECONOMIC CONDITIONS OF LABOURERS

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1 Journal of Management (JOM) Volume 5, Issue 4, July Aug 2018, pp , Article ID: JOM_05_04_037 Available online at Journal Impact Factor (2016): (Calculated by GISI) ISSN Print: and ISSN Online: IAEME Publication LABOUR WELFARE MEASURES AND ITS INFLUENCE ON THE SOCIO ECONOMIC CONDITIONS OF LABOURERS Smt. LissyBennet Assistant Professor, Department of Commerce, All Saints College, Trivandrum ABSTRACT Labour welfare measures covers all the aspects of industrial life which contribute to the well-being of the workers. It helps to maintain the health of the labourers and thus make a positive contribution to the efficiency of the labour force. As majority of the Public Sector Undertakings in Kerala are loss making units, it is requires necessary to understand whether the labour welfare measures are provided as per the provisions of Factories Act, The study also attempts to study the influence of labour welfare measures on the socio economic conditions of labourers. The study reveals that PSUs failed to provide all the labour welfare measures to the labourers as per the act. The study revealed that the socio economic conditions of labourers are very poor in the loss making units of PSUs. The study suggested to adopt welfare measures of the labourers in such a way that they will improve the socio economic conditions of the labourers in the factory. Key words: Labour Welfare Measures, Public Sector Undertakings, PSUS, Socio- Economic Conditions. Cite this Article: Smt. LissyBennet, Labour Welfare Measures and Its Influence on The Socio Economic Conditions of Labourers. Journal of Management, 5(4), 2018, pp INTRODUCTION Labour welfare is an important aspect of industrial relation. It includes welfare facilities designed to take care of wellbeing of workers in order increase their living standard. Report No. II of the ILO, Asian Regional Conference, states labour welfare as such services, facilities and amenities which may be established outside or in the vicinity of undertakings, to enable the persons employed there in to perform their work in healthy and congenial surroundings and to provide them with amenities conducive to good health and high morale. Report of the committee on Labour Welfare (1969), defined labour welfare as such facilities and amenities as adequate canteens, sanitary and medical facilities, rest and recreation facilities, arrangements for travel to and from the accommodation, if the workers were employed at a distance far from editor@iaeme.com

2 Smt. LissyBennet homes and such other services, amenities and facilities such as social security measures that contribute to conditions under which workers were employed. Labour welfare measures were adopted to protect the workers from exploitation and to provide them a sound working environment. It should also be adopted in such a manner that it should also influence the socio economic conditions of labourers. The socio economic condition of labourers refers to different aspects of their life such as education, health, employment, income, gender equality, access to the opportunities for participation in various activities of general significance, command over means of well being, feeling of security and integrity to the social environment. Present study is an attempt to identify the influence of labour welfare measures on the socio economic conditions of labourers. 2. LITERATURE REVIEW Antony, J. (2017) examines the perceptions of workers towards labour welfare measures in the Public Sector Undertakings in Kerala. The analysis reveals that majority of the employees in the Public Sector Companies are not satisfied with the existing labour welfare measures. Satisfaction of the employees regarding the welfare facilities have a big impact to maintain conducive atmosphere for achieving the objectives of better industrial relations, high productivity, industrial growth and prosperity in the state. Prasanna, P., & Bhardwaj, A. (2016) attempted to analyse the socio economic conditions of house construction workers and their economic status by using the category of labour i.e. the skilled and the unskilled workers. The study revealed that the labourers in the construction industry are socially and economically backward and they are unable to organise themselves in pursuit of common interest because of certain constraints like casual nature of employment, ignorance illiteracy, lack of mobility, poverty and lack of cooperation among the workers. Balaji, A. (2015) attempted to understand the socio economic conditions of house construction workers and also to analyse the workers economic status. The results shows that the problems of construction workers like low wages, lack of social security, exploitation from contractors and degraded social status and also the problems from the money lenders. Kumar, A. M., & Kumar, A.M. (2015) attempted to assess the socio economic condition of beedi workers. The study revealed that Majority of the Beedi workers were from the marginalized sections of the society and therefore they were socially, educationally, health wise and economically backward. Poverty was the main reason that induced the respondents to take up Beedi work as an occupation. The study suggested that women s organization working for the unorganized sector like AIDWA, need to conduct consciousness programs among the female Beedi workers at Karchhna and allow them to fight against all forms of operation. Rajkuar, B. (2014) attempted to identify the prevailing labour welfare measures and social security in IT industries in Chennai. The study reveals that the welfare facilities help to motivate and retain employees. Most of the welfare facilities helped to motivate the employees which ensures employee satisfaction and resulted in increased productivity. 3. OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY To identify the welfare measures provided to the labourers of PSUs in Kerala To study the influence of labour welfare measures on the socio economic condition of the labourers 4. SCOPE OF THE STUDY The study covers all the labourers under the manufacturing sector of loss making PSUs (17 units) in Kerala editor@iaeme.com

3 Labour Welfare Measures and Its Influence on The Socio Economic Conditions of Labourers 5. METHODOLOGY OF THE STUDY The method used for the study was both analytical and descriptive in nature. Both the primary and the secondary data had been used for the study. Primary data had been collected from 60 labourers of Public Sector Undertakings. By applying stratified random sampling method, 17 loss making units under manufacturing sector has been classified into 3 strata on the basis of number of labourers working in each PSUs namely small scale (below 100 labourers), medium scale (between 100 and 500 labourers) and large scale (above 500 labourers). From each strata 20 labourers has been selected using convenience sampling method. Secondary data had been collected from various sources such as thesis, journals and reports. 6. ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION The labour welfare measures provided to the PSUs in Kerala can be classifies into two statutory and non-statutory labour welfare measures. Statutory welfare measures consist of those which were provided under the different labour legislation. As the study covers the manufacturing sector, statutory welfare measures include those covered under the Factories Act, All the employers in India were statutorily required to provide these measures. Nonstatutory welfare measures include those which were provided by the employers and workers organization apart from the statutorily welfare measures. The attempt to identify the statutory labour welfare measure provided to the labourers of the organization was depicted in the Table No.1 and the non-statutory labour welfare measures were depicted in Table No. 2 Table 1 Statutory labour welfare measures Statutory Welfare Measures No. of Respondents Yes Percentage No Percentage Uniform washing facility Uniform storing facility Sitting facilities Drinking water facility First aid appliances Shelters, Lunch room and rest room Canteen Crèche Welfare Officers Services Source: Primary Data The above analysis reveals that majority of the labourers in the PSUs were provided statutory welfare measures such as uniform storing facilities (50%), sitting facilities (75%), drinking water facilities (100%), First aid appliances (80%) and Canteen (60%) facility. But labourers of PSUs were not provided with shelters, lunch room and rest room facilities (60%) and welfare officers services (65%). None of the labourers were provided with uniform washing facility and crèche facilities in the organization editor@iaeme.com

4 Smt. LissyBennet Table 2 Non statutory labour welfare measures Statutory Welfare Measures No. of Respondents Responses Responses Percentage (Yes) (No) Percentage Educational facilities Medical facilities Transportation facilities Recreation facilities Housing schemes Proper lighting Latrines and urinals Counselling services Washing allowance Uniform allowance Source: Primary Data It was evident from the above analysis that majority of the labourers were provided with a number of non- statutory welfare measures such as proper lighting (65%) and latrines and urinals (95%). However, educational facilities (60%), transportation facilities (60%), recreational facilities, washing allowance (80%) and uniform allowances (60%) were not provided to them (majority). None of the labourers were provided with medical facilities, housing schemes and counselling services. Socio economic conditions of labourers were relevant as it influences the productivity of the labourers. An analysis of the influence of labour welfare measures on the socio economic welfare measures are depicted in Table No.3. Table 3 Influence of labour welfare measures on the socio economic condition of the labourers Sl.No Particulars Yes No Responses % Responses % a) Influenced to increase job satisfaction b) Influenced to improve physical and mental health c) Influenced to increase the commitment towards work a) Influenced to improve family relationship b) Influenced to improve the caring of children a) Influenced to improve social interaction b) Influenced to have improved social status c) Influenced to create a positive social outlook a) Influenced to meet more personal Expenses b) Influenced to meet more family expenses c) Influenced to increase savings Source: Primary data editor@iaeme.com

5 Labour Welfare Measures and Its Influence on The Socio Economic Conditions of Labourers The above analysis reveals that majority of the respondents are of the opinion that labour welfare measures provided by the PSUs in Kerala helps to improve physical and mental health (75%), improve family relationship (95%), improve caring of children (80%). Improve social interaction (75%) and social status (95%) and create a social outlook (60%). However a minor percentage of the labourers do not agree with the same. On the other hand majority of the respondents opined that the labour welfare measures provided by the organisation do not influence to increase job satisfaction (60%), commitment towards work (60%), meeting more personal expenses (80%) and family expenses (90%) and to increase the savings. 7. FINDINGS AND SUGGESTIONS The labourers in the loss making PSUs under manufacturing sector were provided statutory welfare measures such as uniform storing facilities, sitting facilities, drinking water facilities, first aid appliances and canteen facilities. But they were not provided with shelters, lunch room and rest room facilities and welfare officers services. None of the labourers were provided with uniform washing facility and crèche facilities in the organization. With regard to the nonstatutory welfare measures, proper lighting inside the factory and latrines and urinal facilities are provided to the labourers. However, educational facilities, transportation facilities, recreational facilities, washing allowance and uniform allowances were not provided to them. None of the labourers were provided with medical facilities, housing schemes and counselling services. About the influence of labour welfare measures on the socio economic conditions of labourers, labour welfare measures provided by the PSUs in Kerala helps to improve physical and mental health, family relationship, caring of children, social interaction, and social status and to create a social outlook. However, the labour welfare measures provided by the organisation do not influence to increase job satisfaction, commitment towards work, meeting more personal expenses and family expenses and to increase the savings. In the light of above findings, it is suggested that the PSUs in Kerala should provide crèche facilities and uniform washing facilities as it is mandatory as per the Factories Act, They must also adopt welfare measures of the labourers in such a way that they will improve the socio economic conditions of the labourers in the factory. 8. CONCLUSION Labour welfare measures covers all the aspects of industrial life which helps the labours of the organisation to maintain a minimum standard of working life for the labourers of the organisation. As majority of the Public Sector Undertakings in Kerala are loss making units, it is requires necessary to identify whether the PSUs were providing labour welfare measures to the labourers as per the provisions of Factories Act, The study attempted to identify the influence of labour welfare measures on the socio economic conditions of labourers. The study revealed that PSUs failed to provide all the labour welfare measures to the labourers as per the Factories Act. The labour welfare measures provided by the organisation helps to improve their personal, family and social life. But the economic life of people is not satisfactory. The study suggested to adopt welfare measures of the labourers in such a way that they will improve the socio economic conditions of the labourers in the factory editor@iaeme.com

6 Smt. LissyBennet REFERENCE [1] Anthony, J. (2017). A study on effectiveness of labour welfare measures in loss making Public sector undertakings in kerala. International Journal of Innovative Research in Management Studies, 2(7), 5-12 [2] Prasanna, P., & Bhardwaj, A. (2016). Socio economic conditions of building construction workers in South India. International journal of advanced computing and electronics Technology, 3(4), [3] Balaji, A. (2015). Socio- economic conditions of house construction workers in Vijayawada city. International Journal of Management and Social Science Research, 4(12), [4] Kumar, A. M., & Kumar, A.M. (2015). A Study on the Socio-Economic State of Female Beedi Worker at Karchhna, Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh. International Journal of Social Science and Humanities Research, 3(2), [5] Report of the Committee on Labour Welfare. (1946). Government of India, Ministry of Labour, editor@iaeme.com