A Brief Check List of Labour Laws: Composed by E.Hanumanth
A Brief Check List of Labour Laws: Composed by E.Hanumanth
LABOUR LAWS
Composed by
E.HANUMANTH
PGDBA (HRM)
APPRENTICES ACT, 1961
CHECKLIST
Coverage Rate of
Applicability of
of employees Contribution of
the Act & Scheme THE ESI SCHEME TODAY
the wages
Is extended in area- No. of implemented Centres 677
wise to factories using Drawing wages No. of Employers covered 2.38 lacs
power and employing upto Rs.10000/- Employers’ 4.75% No. of Insured Persons 85 lacs
10 or more persons per month Employees’ 1.75% No. of Beneficiaries 330 lacs
and to non-power engaged either No. of Regional Offices/SRO’s 26
using manufacturing directly or thru’ No. of ESI Hospitals/Annexes 183
units and establish- contractor No. of ESI Dispensaries 1453
ments employing 20 No. of Panel Clinics 2950
or more person upto
Rs.7500/- per month Manner and Time Limit
w.e.f. 1.4.2004. It for making Payment of contribution
Benefits
has also been extend- To the employees under the Act
ed upon shops, The total amount of contribution (employee’s
hotels, restaurants, share and employer’s share) is to be deposited
with the authorised bank through a challan in Medical, sickness, extended sickness
roads motor transport for certain diseases, enhanced
undertakings, equip- the prescribed form in quadruplicate on ore
before 21st of month following the calendar sickness, dependents maternity,
ment maintenance besides funeral expenses, rehabilitation
staff in the hospitals. month in which the wages fall due.
allowance, medical benefit to insured
person and his or her spouse.
• Prohibition of employment of young children e.g. 14 years. A worker having worked for 240 days @
• Non-adult workers to carry tokens e.g. certificate of fitnekss. one day for every 20 days and for a child
• Working hours for children not more than 4 ½ hrs. and not permitted to one day for working of 15 days.
work during night shift. Accumulation of leave for 30 days.
Secs. 51, 54 to 56, 59 & 60 Secs. 79
PENALTIES
• Impedes the right of access to relevant records or documents or the right of entry conferred by section 6; he shall be
punishable for the first offence with fine upto Rs.250 and for every subsequent offence with fine upto Rs.250 and for
every subsequent offence with fine upto Rs.500. Rules 7
INDUSTRIAL DISPUTES ACT, 1947
Object of the Act
Provisions for investigation and settlement of industrial disputes and for certain other purposes.
Important Clarifications Power of Labour Court to give Right of a Workman during Pendency
Industry – has attained wider meaning than defined Appropriate Relief of Proceedings in High Court
except for domestic employment, covers from barber Labour Court/Industrial Tribunal can Employer to pay last drawn wages to
shops to big steel companies. Sec.2(I) Modify the punishment of dismissal or reinstated workman when proceedings
Works Committee–Joint Committee with equal number discharge of workmen and give appropriate challenging the award of his
of employers and employees’ representatives for relief including reinstatement. Sec.11A reinstatement are pending in the
discussion of certain common problems. Sec.3 higher Courts. Sec.17B
Conciliation–is an attempt by a third party in helping to
settle the disputes Sec.4 Persons Bound by Settlement
Adjudication – Labour Court, Industrial Tribunal or • When in the course of conciliation Period of Operation of
National Tribunal to hear and decide the dispute. proceedings etc., all persons working Settlements and Awards
Secs.7,7A & 7B or joining subsequently. • A settlement for a period as
agreed by the parties, or
• Otherwise than in course of
• Period of six months on signing
settlement upon the parties to the
of settlement.
Lay off & Payment of Compensation – settlement. Sec.18
• An award for one year after its
Conditions for Laying off enforcement. Sec.19
Failure, refusal or inability of an employer to provide
work due to Notice of Change
• Shortage of coal, power or raw material. 21 days by an employer to workmen
• Accumulation of stocks.
Prior Permission for Lay off
about changing the conditions of service When there are more than 100
• Breakdown of machinery. as provided in Ivth Schedule. Sec.9A workmen during proceeding 12
• Natural calamity. Sec.25-C months. Sec.25-M
CHECK-LIST
PENALTIES
• Failure of employer to submit draft Standing Orders fine of Rs.5000 and Rs.200 for every day on continuation of
offence.
• Fine of Rs.100 on contravention and on continuation of offence Rs.25 for every day.
MATERNITY
BENEFIT ACT, 1961
CHECK LIST
Coverage of the Act Conditions for eligibility of
Object of the Act Upon all women employees either employed
To protect the dignity of benefits
directly or through contractor except domestic Women indulging temporary of
motherhood and the women employees employed in mines, factories,
dignity of a new person’s unmarried are eligible for
plantations and also in other establishments if the maternity benefit when she is
birth by providing for the State Government so decides. Therefore, if the
full and healthy expecting a child and has
State Government decides to apply this Act to worked for her employer for at
maintenance of the women employees in shops and commercial
woman and her child at least 80 days in the 12 months
establishments, they also will get the benefit of immediately proceeding the
this important time when this Act. Bihar, Punjab Haryana, West Bengal,
she is not working. date of her expected delivery
U.P., Orissa and Andhra have done so. Sec. 5.
• Any 7 or more members of a trade union may, by subscribing Prescribed form with following details.
their names to the rules of the trade union and its compliance. • Names, occupations and address of the
members’ place of work.
• There should be at least 10%, or 100 of the work-men,
whichever is less, engaged or employed in the establishment or • Address of its head office; and
industry with which it is connected.
• Names, ages, addresses and occupations of its
• It has on the date of making application not less than 7 persons office bearers.
as its members, who are workmen engaged or employed in the Sec. 5
establishment or industry with which it is connected.
Separate establishment
Computation of available surplus Components of Bonus If profit and loss accounts are
prepared and maintained in
Income tax and direct taxes as payable. Salary or wages includes respect of any such
Depreciation as per section 32 of Income dearness allowance but no department or undertaking or
Tax Act. other allowances e.g. branch, then such department
Development rebate, investment or over-time, house rent, or undertaking or branch is
development allowance. incentive or commission. treated as a separate
Sec.5 Sec.2(21) establishment.
Sec.3
• A register showing the computation of the allocable surplus referred to in clause (4) of section 2, in form A.
• A register showing the set-on and set-off of the allocable surplus, under section 15, in form B
• A register showing the details of the amount of bonus due to each of the employees, the deductions under
section 17 and 18 and the amount actually disbursed, in form C.
Sec.26, Rule 4
Act not applicable to certain employees of LIC, General Insurance, Dock Yards, Red Cross, Universities & Educational
Institutions, Chambers of Commerce, Social Welfare Institutions, Building Contractors, etc. etc. Sec.32.
PENALTY For contravention of any provision of the Act or the Rule Upto 6 months or with fine upto Rs.1000. Sec.28
Sec.
1
PAYMENT OF Sec.
2(s)
On contravention of S.5 (except sub-sec.4), S.7, S.8 Fine not less than Rs.1000 which may extend to Rs.5000.
(except Ss.8), S.9, S.10 (except Ss.2) and Secs.11 to 13. On subsequent conviction fine not less than Rs.5000, may
extend to Rs.10,000. On contravention S.4, S.5(4), S6,
S.8(8), S.10(2) or S.25 fine not less than Rs.1000. – may
extend to Rs.5000. On subsequent On conviction fine not
less.
• For failing to maintain registers or records; or
• Wilfully refusing or without lawful excuse neglecting to • Fine which shall not be less than Rs.1000 but may
furnish information or return; or extend to Rs.5000 – On record conviction fine not less
• Wilfully furnishing or causing to be furnished any than Rs.5000, may extend to Rs.10,000.
information or return which he knows to be false or • For second or subsequent conviction, fine not less than
• Refusing to answer or wilfully giving a false answer to Rs.5000 but may extend to Rs.10,000
any question necessary for obtaining any information
required to be furnished under this Act.
• Wilfully obstructing an Inspector in the discharge of his
duties under this Act; or
• Refusing or wilfully neglecting to afford an Inspector any Fine not less than Rs.1000 extendable
reasonable facility for making any entry, inspection etc. Upto Rs.5000 – On subsequent conviction fine
• Wilfully refusing to produce on the demand of an not less than Rs.5000 – may extent to Rs.10,000
inspector any register or other document kept in
pursuance of this Act; or preventing any person for
appearance etc.
• On conviction for any offence and again guilty of • Imprisonment not less than one month extendable upto
Contravention of same provision. six months and fine not less than Rs.2000 extendable
• Failing or neglecting to pay wages to any employee upto Rs.15000.
• Additional fine upto Rs.100 for each day.
WORKMEN’S COMPENSATION
ACT, 1923
CHECKLIST
Coverage of Workmen Employer’s liability to pay
Applicability All workers irrespective of their status or compensation to a workman
salaries either directly or through On death or personal injury resulting into
All over India contractor or a person recruited to work total or partial disablement or occupational
Sec.1 abroad. Sec.1(3) disease caused to a workman arising out
of and during the course of employment.
Sec.3
Amount of compensation
• Where death of a workman results from the injury
• An amount equal to fifty per cent of the monthly wages of the When an employee is not liable for
deceased workman multiplied by the relevant factor on an compensation
amount of eighty thousand rupees, whichever is more.
• Where permanent total disablement results from the injury. • In respect of any injury which does
• An amount equal to sixty per cent of the monthly wages of the result in the total or partial disablement
injured workman multiplied by the relevant factor or an amount of the workman for a period exceeding
of ninety thousand rupees, whichever is more three days.
Procedure for calculation • In respect of any injury, not resulting in
Higher the age – Lower the compensation death or permanent total disablement
• Relevant factor specified in second column of Schedule IV giving caused by an accident which is directly
slabs depending upon the age of the concerned workman. attributable to-
• Example : In case of death. • The workman having been at the time
• Wages Rs.3000 PM ● Age 23 years thereof under the influence of drink or
• Factor as schedule IV Rs.19.95 drugs, or
• Amount of compensation Rs.329935 • Willful disobedience of the workman to
• In case of total disablement Rs.395910. an order expressly given, or to a rule
Sec. 4 expressly framed, for the purpose of
securing the safety of workmen, or
Wages Notice • Willful removal or disregard by the
Accident workman of any safety guard or other
When the monthly wages are device which he knew to have been
more than Rs.4000 per month it As soon as provided for the purpose of securing the
will be deemed Rs.4000. Practicable safety of workman.
Sec.4 Exh.b Sec. 10 Sec.3(a) & (b)
PENALTY
• In case of default by employer • 50% of the compensation amount + interest to be paid to the
• Deposit of Compensation workman or his dependents as the case may be.
• Within one month with the Compensation Commissioner
Sec.4A
SHOPS & ESTABLISHMENT ACT
SECTION HEADING PROVISION
1.1 Procedure for issue of a) Application: Made in the specified format
new Registration b) Processing Charges : Rs 200/- to be paid along with the application
Certificate c) Documents to be enclosed:
i) Ownership documents/Proof of Possession and/or Proof of authorization/ tolerated
status of the structure as format Indemnity Bond on non-judicial stamp paper
ii) Undertaking/Indemnity bond as per the specified formats
d) Inspection: Concerned Municipal Staff will visit the premises within 10 days
from the date of receipt of application
e) Issuance/Rejection: The processing gets completed within 15 days from
the date of receipt of application and the applicant will be issued Registration
Certificate or the rejection letter as the case may be.
1.2 Working Hours , Normal working hours(Sec. 8)
Overtime & Close Day 9 hours a day /48 hours a week
Opening hours not before 8 AM and closing hours not after 6 PM
Rest (Sec. 10)
1/2 hour each day
Period of continuous work not to exceed 5 hours
Spread over(Sec. 11)
10 1/2 hours including interval for rest
Overtime(Sec. 8)
Should not exceed 54 hours including normal working hours in a week
Overtime should not exceed 150 hours a year
Close Day(Sec. 16)
There should be one close day every week
1.3 Compulsory holidays(Sec 3 National holidays (26 Jan, 15 Aug, 2 October)
16) Weekly close day; and PL / CL
1.4 Leaves- Sec. 22 PL -Not less than 15 days after every 12 months continuous service, provided that if
an employee completes a period of 4 months in continuous employment, he shall be
entitled to not less than 5 days PL for every such completed period.
-Can be accumulated upto 3 years (i.e. upto 3 times the period of leave to which the
employee is entitled after one year.
-If an employee separates before he has been allowed PL, the employer shall pay him
full wages for the period of leave due to him.
SL/ CL -SL or CL not less than 12 days in a year, provided that if an employee
completes a period of 1 month in continuous employment, he shall be entitled to not
less than 1 days CL for every month.
-Need not be accumulated beyond one year.
1.4 Wages during leave Sec. At a rate equivalent to daily average of his wages for the days on which he
23 actually worked during the preceding three months, excluding overtime, but
including dearness allowance.
1.5 Notice of dismissal Sec. In case of employee completing 3 months continuous service, minimum 1
30 month’s written notice/ payment in lieu thereof is required by either side, as
the case may be.
1.5 Termination by or on Wages to be paid before the expiry of 2nd working day after the day on which
behalf of the employment is terminated
employer(Sec. 19-5)
1.6 Recovery of advances - Deduction for recovery of advances should not exceed one-fourth of the
Sec. 20(2)(vi) wages earned in that month
1.7 Accidents Sec. 29 The provisions of Workmen’s’ Compensation Act 1923 shall apply if the accident
occurs in the course of employment. If ESI is applicable to the employee, the
employer shall cease to be liable under the Workmen’s’ Compensation Act.
1.8 Records Sec. 33 Close Day Notice (Form K);
Hours worked, amount of leave taken, intervals allowed for rest and meals,
particulars of all employment overtime; Form K to display.
1.9 Letters of appointments The following particulars should be contained in the appointment letter:
Sec. 34 The name of the employer;
The name, if any, and the postal address of the establishment;
The name, father’s name and the age of the employee;
The hours of work; Date of appointment.
RIGHT TO INFORMATION (RTI) ACT 2005
Right to Information Act
The Right to Information Act, 2005 (RTI) is a law enacted by the Parliament of India "to
provide for setting out the practical regime of right to information for citizens." The Act applies
to all States and Union Territories of India, except the State of Jammu and Kashmir - which is
covered under a State-level law. Under the provisions of the Act, any citizen (excluding the
citizens within J&K) may request information from a "public authority" (a body of Government
or "instrumentality of State") which is required to reply expeditiously or within thirty days. The
Act also requires every public authority to computerise their records for wide dissemination and
to proactively publish certain categories of information so that the citizens need minimum
recourse to request for information formally.
This law was passed by Parliament on 15 June 2005 and came fully into force on 12 October
2005 [1]. Information disclosure in India was hitherto restricted by the Official Secrets Act 1923
and various other special laws, which the new RTI Act now relaxes.
Information
The Act specifies that citizens have a right to:
• request any information (as defined).
• take copies of documents.
• inspect documents, works and records.
• take certified samples of materials of work.
• obtain information in form of printouts, diskettes, floppies, tapes, video cassettes 'or in
any other electronic mode' or through printouts.
Process
Under the Act, all authorities covered must appoint their Public Information Officer (PIO).
Any person may submit a request to the PIO for information in writing. It is the PIO's
obligation to provide information to citizens of India who request information under the Act. If
the request pertains to another public authority (in whole or part) it is the PIO's responsibility to
transfer/forward the concerned portions of the request to a PIO of the other within 5 working
days. In addition, every public authority is required to designate Assistant Public Information
Officers (APIOs) to receive RTI requests and appeals for forwarding to the PIOs of their public
authority. The citizen making the request is not obliged to disclose any information except his
name and contact particulars.
The Act specifies time limits for replying to the request.
• If the request has been made to the PIO, the reply is to be given within 30 days of
receipt.
• If the request has been made to an APIO, the reply is to be given within 35 days of
receipt.
• If the PIO transfers the request to another public authority (better concerned with the
information requested), the time allowed to reply is 30 days but computed from the day
after it is received by the PIO of the transferee authority.
• Information concerning corruption and Human Rights violations by scheduled Security
agencies (those listed in the Second Schedule to the Act) is to be provided within 45
days but with the prior approval of the Central Information Commission.
• However, if life or liberty of any person is involved, the PIO is expected to reply within
48 hours.
Since the information is to be paid for, the reply of the PIO is necessarily limited to either
denying the request (in whole or part) and/or providing a computation of "further fees". The
time between the reply of the PIO and the time taken to deposit the further fees for information
is excluded from the time allowed.
If information is not provided within this period, it is treated as deemed refusal. Refusal with or
without reasons may be ground for appeal or complaint. Further, information not provided in
the times prescribed is to be provided free of charge.
For Central Departments as of 2006, there is a fee of Rs. 10 for filing the request, Rs. 2 per
page of information and Rs. 5 for each hour of inspection after the first hour. If the applicant is
a Below Poverty Card holder, then no fee shall apply. Such BPL Card holders have to provide a
copy of their BPL card along with their application to the Public Authority. States Government
and High Courts fix their own rules.
cic,sic,pio
Chief Information Commissioner (CIC) is the head of all the information officers. The State
Information Commission will be selected by the State Government through a Gazette
notification. It will have one State Chief Information Commissioner (SCIC) and not more than
10 State Information Commissioners (SIC) to be appointed by the Governor.
At the end of year CIC is required to present a report which contains: (a) the number of
requests made to each public authority; (b) the number of decisions where applicants were not
given permission to access to the documents which they request, the provisions of the Act
under which these decisions were made and the number of times such provisions were filed;
(c)details of disciplinary action taken against any officer in respect of the administration of the
Act; (d) the amount of charges collected by each public authority under the Act
PIO shall deal with requests from persons seeking information and where the request cannot be
made in writing, to render reasonable assistance to the person to reduce the same in writing.
Aim and Objectives of RTI Act
The right of any citizen of India to request access to information and the
corresponding duty of Govt. to meet the request, except the exempted
information (Sec. 8/9)
The duty of Govt. to pro-actively make available key information to all (Sec 4).
Covers central, state and local governments and all bodies owned,
controlled or substantially financed by the respective Governments;
Non-government organization substantially financed directly or indirectly
by funds provided by the appropriate government.
Executive, judiciary and legislature
Includes information relating to private body which can be accessed
by under any other law for the time being in force.
Types of issues that can be solved using RTI.
For a legitimate work which is pending:
Issue of passport.
Decision by the administrative authority.
Faulty construction
Issue of any type of license.
Issue of various certificates of marriage, death, birth, SC/ST & OBC etc.
Inclusion of name in voters’ list
Issue of Voter ID Card.
Correction of water, electricity, telephone bills, change of faulty meter, providing
new water or electricity connection, etc.
Filing of FIR.
Claiming various kinds of refunds or payments etc like tax refund, medical
reimbursement, provident Fund etc.