Procedure for Registration of a Welfare Officer in Maharashtra
What is the procedure for the registration of a Welfare Officer in Maharashtra under the Factory Act of 1948? Please help me as I don't even know what qualifications are required for the same.
Awaiting your response.
With regards,
Vineet
From India, Yavatmal
What is the procedure for the registration of a Welfare Officer in Maharashtra under the Factory Act of 1948? Please help me as I don't even know what qualifications are required for the same.
Awaiting your response.
With regards,
Vineet
From India, Yavatmal
There must be separate rules framed by the state regarding the appointment and service conditions of welfare officers. You may refer to your state rules for details. Normally, MSW, Master's degree, or PG Diploma in Personnel Management/Industrial Relations are the qualifications for a welfare officer.
Regards,
Madhu.T.K
From India, Kannur
Regards,
Madhu.T.K
From India, Kannur
Hi Venkat,
According to the Factories Act 1948, when there are 300 or more employees working in any factory, at least one welfare officer is required. The qualification for this position is a Master's in Social Work. Preference is given to candidates with an MSW qualification; otherwise, candidates with a PG Diploma are considered.
It is advisable to review the Act once more to ensure compliance.
Regards,
VENKAT
From India, Hyderabad
According to the Factories Act 1948, when there are 300 or more employees working in any factory, at least one welfare officer is required. The qualification for this position is a Master's in Social Work. Preference is given to candidates with an MSW qualification; otherwise, candidates with a PG Diploma are considered.
It is advisable to review the Act once more to ensure compliance.
Regards,
VENKAT
From India, Hyderabad
Please go through Maharashtra Factory Rules.
Reference: AP Factory Rules 1950_Chapter V Rule prescribed under Section 49
76-B. Welfare Officers
(1) Number of Welfare Officers: The occupier of every factory where 500 or more workers are employed shall appoint at least one Welfare Officer: Provided that where a group of factories in close proximity belong to the same management, the Chief Inspector may exempt the said factories from this rule in so far as it requires the appointment of a separate Welfare Officer in respect of each such factory subject to such conditions as he may impose: Provided further that where the number of workers exceeds 2,000, one additional Welfare Officer shall be appointed for every additional 2,000 workers or fraction thereof over 500; and where there are more than one Welfare Officer, one of them shall be called the Chief Welfare Officer and the others Assistant Welfare Officers.
(2) Qualifications: A person shall not be eligible for appointment as Welfare Officer unless he possesses:
(a) a Degree in Arts/Science/Commerce or in Law of any University;
(b) a Degree or Diploma in Industrial Relations and Personnel Management covering Labour Welfare, as a special subject, of not less than two years duration, conducted or recognized by a University of the State of Andhra Pradesh, Provided that the one-year Post Graduate Diploma Course in Industrial Relations and Personnel Management awarded by the Osmania University, Hyderabad, up to the academic year 1991-92 shall be treated as recognized and equivalent qualification to the Diploma in Industrial Relations and Personnel Management covering Labour Welfare, and
(c) adequate knowledge of Telugu Language, Provided that the State Government may grant exemption in suitable cases from the condition of possessing the qualification of a Degree or a Diploma in Social Science from a recognized Institution.
(3) Recruitment of Welfare Officers
(i) The post of Welfare Officer shall be advertised in two newspapers having a wide circulation in the State, one of which should be an English newspaper.
(ii) Selection for appointment of the post of Welfare Officer shall be made from among the candidates applying for the post by a committee appointed by the occupier of the factory.
(iii) The appointment when made shall be notified by the occupier to the Chief Inspector giving the details of the qualifications, age, pay, previous experience, and other relevant particulars of the Officer appointed and the terms and conditions of his service.
(iv) The required number of Welfare Officers shall be appointed within 120 days from the date on which such appointments are due to be made under sub-rule (1) of Rule 76-B or from the date of resignation/dismissal/termination of services of any Welfare Officer.
(4) Conditions of service of Welfare Officers
(i) Welfare Officers shall be given appropriate status corresponding to the status of a member of the Executive Staff of the Factory and shall be fixed in a scale of pay which shall not be less than:
(a) Rs. 4400-8700-Revised Scale of 1993 (Plus such allowances as applicable to a similar pay scale) obtaining in the concerned factory/establishment in the case of Chief Welfare Officer; and
(b) Rs. 3110-6380-Revised scale of 1993 (Plus such allowances as applicable to a similar pay scale) obtaining in the concerned factory/establishment in the case of Welfare Officer.
(ii) The conditions of service of Welfare Officer shall be the same as those of the other members of the executive staff of corresponding status in the factory.
(iii) The services of a Welfare Officer shall not be dispensed with, nor he shall be reverted, without the written concurrence of the Director of Factories, Hyderabad who shall record reasons therefor.
(iv) No punishment such as withholding of increments, including stoppage at any efficiency bar, reduction to a lower stage in the time scale, suspension dismissal or termination of service, except censure shall be imposed by the management on a Welfare Officer, except with the previous concurrence of the Director of Factories.
(v) A Welfare Officer, who has been dismissed from service or whose services have been terminated in any other manner than as provided in clause (iv) above may within 30 days from the date of receipt of the order by him, appeal to the State Government against the order of punishment made by the management with the concurrence of the Director of Factories and the decision of the State Government thereon shall be final: Provided that when the management terminates the service or probation of a Welfare Officer the reasons for such a termination of service or probation shall be reported to the State Government or such authority, as may be empowered by them in this behalf.
(5) Duties of Welfare Officers: The duties of a Welfare Officer sing be:
(i) to establish contacts and hold consultations with a view to maintaining harmonious relations between the factory management and workers
(ii) to bring to the notice of factory management, the grievances of workers, individual as well as collective, with a view to securing their expeditious redress and to act as a Liaison Officer between the management and labor
(iii) to study and understand the point of view of labor in order to help the factory management to shape and formulate labor policies and to interpret these policies to the workers in language they can understand
(iv) to advise on the fulfillment by the concerned departments of the factory management of obligations statutory or otherwise concerning the application of the provisions of the Factories Act, 1948 and the rules made thereunder and to establish liaison with the Inspector of Factories, and the medical services concerning medical examination of employees, health records, supervision of hazardous jobs, sick visiting and convalescence, accident prevention and supervision of safety committees, systematic plant inspection, safety education, investigation of accidents, maternity benefits, and workmen's compensation;
(v) to advise on fulfillment by the management and the concerned departments of the factory of their obligations, statutory or otherwise, concerning regulation of working hours, maternity benefit, compensation for injuries and sickness and other welfare and social benefit measures;
(vi) to advise and assist the management in the fulfillment of its obligations, statutory or otherwise concerning prevention of personal injuries and maintaining a safe work environment, in such factories where a Safety Officer is not required to be appointed under the enabling provisions under Section 40-B
(vii) to encourage the formation of works and joint production committees, cooperative societies, and welfare committees and to supervise their work
(viii) to encourage provision of amenities such as canteens, shelters for rest, creches, adequate latrine facilities, drinking water, sickness and benevolent scheme payments, pension and superannuation funds, gratuity, payments, granting of loans and legal advice to workers
(ix) to help the factory management in regulating the grant of leave with wages and explain to workers the provisions relating to leave with wages and other leave privileges and to guide the workers in the matter of submission of applications for regulating authorized absence;
(x) to advise on provision of welfare facilities such as housing facilities, foodstuffs, social and recreational facilities, and sanitation and on individual personal problems and on the education of children;
(xi) to advise the factory management on questions relating to training of new starters, apprentices, workers on transfer and promotion, instructors and supervisors; supervision and control of the notice board and information bulletins; to further the education of workers and encourage their attendance at technical institutes;
(xii) to suggest measures which will serve to raise the standard of living of workers and in general, promote their well-being;
(xiii) Welfare Officers not to deal with disciplinary cases or appear on behalf of the management against workers. No Welfare Officer shall deal with any disciplinary case against a worker or appear before a conciliation office, or in a Court or Tribunal on behalf of the Factory management against any worker or workers.
(6) Powers of exemption: The State Government may by notification in the Official Gazette exempt any factory or class or description of factories from the operation of all or any of the provisions of this Rule subject to compliance with such alternative arrangements, as may be approved by the State Government.
Regards Kalyan
From India, Jaipur
Reference: AP Factory Rules 1950_Chapter V Rule prescribed under Section 49
76-B. Welfare Officers
(1) Number of Welfare Officers: The occupier of every factory where 500 or more workers are employed shall appoint at least one Welfare Officer: Provided that where a group of factories in close proximity belong to the same management, the Chief Inspector may exempt the said factories from this rule in so far as it requires the appointment of a separate Welfare Officer in respect of each such factory subject to such conditions as he may impose: Provided further that where the number of workers exceeds 2,000, one additional Welfare Officer shall be appointed for every additional 2,000 workers or fraction thereof over 500; and where there are more than one Welfare Officer, one of them shall be called the Chief Welfare Officer and the others Assistant Welfare Officers.
(2) Qualifications: A person shall not be eligible for appointment as Welfare Officer unless he possesses:
(a) a Degree in Arts/Science/Commerce or in Law of any University;
(b) a Degree or Diploma in Industrial Relations and Personnel Management covering Labour Welfare, as a special subject, of not less than two years duration, conducted or recognized by a University of the State of Andhra Pradesh, Provided that the one-year Post Graduate Diploma Course in Industrial Relations and Personnel Management awarded by the Osmania University, Hyderabad, up to the academic year 1991-92 shall be treated as recognized and equivalent qualification to the Diploma in Industrial Relations and Personnel Management covering Labour Welfare, and
(c) adequate knowledge of Telugu Language, Provided that the State Government may grant exemption in suitable cases from the condition of possessing the qualification of a Degree or a Diploma in Social Science from a recognized Institution.
(3) Recruitment of Welfare Officers
(i) The post of Welfare Officer shall be advertised in two newspapers having a wide circulation in the State, one of which should be an English newspaper.
(ii) Selection for appointment of the post of Welfare Officer shall be made from among the candidates applying for the post by a committee appointed by the occupier of the factory.
(iii) The appointment when made shall be notified by the occupier to the Chief Inspector giving the details of the qualifications, age, pay, previous experience, and other relevant particulars of the Officer appointed and the terms and conditions of his service.
(iv) The required number of Welfare Officers shall be appointed within 120 days from the date on which such appointments are due to be made under sub-rule (1) of Rule 76-B or from the date of resignation/dismissal/termination of services of any Welfare Officer.
(4) Conditions of service of Welfare Officers
(i) Welfare Officers shall be given appropriate status corresponding to the status of a member of the Executive Staff of the Factory and shall be fixed in a scale of pay which shall not be less than:
(a) Rs. 4400-8700-Revised Scale of 1993 (Plus such allowances as applicable to a similar pay scale) obtaining in the concerned factory/establishment in the case of Chief Welfare Officer; and
(b) Rs. 3110-6380-Revised scale of 1993 (Plus such allowances as applicable to a similar pay scale) obtaining in the concerned factory/establishment in the case of Welfare Officer.
(ii) The conditions of service of Welfare Officer shall be the same as those of the other members of the executive staff of corresponding status in the factory.
(iii) The services of a Welfare Officer shall not be dispensed with, nor he shall be reverted, without the written concurrence of the Director of Factories, Hyderabad who shall record reasons therefor.
(iv) No punishment such as withholding of increments, including stoppage at any efficiency bar, reduction to a lower stage in the time scale, suspension dismissal or termination of service, except censure shall be imposed by the management on a Welfare Officer, except with the previous concurrence of the Director of Factories.
(v) A Welfare Officer, who has been dismissed from service or whose services have been terminated in any other manner than as provided in clause (iv) above may within 30 days from the date of receipt of the order by him, appeal to the State Government against the order of punishment made by the management with the concurrence of the Director of Factories and the decision of the State Government thereon shall be final: Provided that when the management terminates the service or probation of a Welfare Officer the reasons for such a termination of service or probation shall be reported to the State Government or such authority, as may be empowered by them in this behalf.
(5) Duties of Welfare Officers: The duties of a Welfare Officer sing be:
(i) to establish contacts and hold consultations with a view to maintaining harmonious relations between the factory management and workers
(ii) to bring to the notice of factory management, the grievances of workers, individual as well as collective, with a view to securing their expeditious redress and to act as a Liaison Officer between the management and labor
(iii) to study and understand the point of view of labor in order to help the factory management to shape and formulate labor policies and to interpret these policies to the workers in language they can understand
(iv) to advise on the fulfillment by the concerned departments of the factory management of obligations statutory or otherwise concerning the application of the provisions of the Factories Act, 1948 and the rules made thereunder and to establish liaison with the Inspector of Factories, and the medical services concerning medical examination of employees, health records, supervision of hazardous jobs, sick visiting and convalescence, accident prevention and supervision of safety committees, systematic plant inspection, safety education, investigation of accidents, maternity benefits, and workmen's compensation;
(v) to advise on fulfillment by the management and the concerned departments of the factory of their obligations, statutory or otherwise, concerning regulation of working hours, maternity benefit, compensation for injuries and sickness and other welfare and social benefit measures;
(vi) to advise and assist the management in the fulfillment of its obligations, statutory or otherwise concerning prevention of personal injuries and maintaining a safe work environment, in such factories where a Safety Officer is not required to be appointed under the enabling provisions under Section 40-B
(vii) to encourage the formation of works and joint production committees, cooperative societies, and welfare committees and to supervise their work
(viii) to encourage provision of amenities such as canteens, shelters for rest, creches, adequate latrine facilities, drinking water, sickness and benevolent scheme payments, pension and superannuation funds, gratuity, payments, granting of loans and legal advice to workers
(ix) to help the factory management in regulating the grant of leave with wages and explain to workers the provisions relating to leave with wages and other leave privileges and to guide the workers in the matter of submission of applications for regulating authorized absence;
(x) to advise on provision of welfare facilities such as housing facilities, foodstuffs, social and recreational facilities, and sanitation and on individual personal problems and on the education of children;
(xi) to advise the factory management on questions relating to training of new starters, apprentices, workers on transfer and promotion, instructors and supervisors; supervision and control of the notice board and information bulletins; to further the education of workers and encourage their attendance at technical institutes;
(xii) to suggest measures which will serve to raise the standard of living of workers and in general, promote their well-being;
(xiii) Welfare Officers not to deal with disciplinary cases or appear on behalf of the management against workers. No Welfare Officer shall deal with any disciplinary case against a worker or appear before a conciliation office, or in a Court or Tribunal on behalf of the Factory management against any worker or workers.
(6) Powers of exemption: The State Government may by notification in the Official Gazette exempt any factory or class or description of factories from the operation of all or any of the provisions of this Rule subject to compliance with such alternative arrangements, as may be approved by the State Government.
Regards Kalyan
From India, Jaipur
Dear Vineet, I am attaching herewith scanned copy of the Maharashtra Factories Rules 1963, with rlues regarding Welfare officer for your information. Please go through the same. Regards, Avinash K.
From India, Mumbai
From India, Mumbai
Dear Members, Can anybody please provide Andhra Pradesh Factory Rules, 1950 in soft copy. Regards Venkateswara rao
From India, Bangalore
From India, Bangalore
As i am studying PG diploma in IRPM.Can anyone make me more clear about the functions of Welfare officer with the Gujarat factory rules.
From India, Vadodara
From India, Vadodara
We have a total workforce of about 1,200 employees in 4 units and a staff of 150. We have a welfare officer who is not an MSW. Could someone please let me know what the minimum qualification is for a welfare officer?
Thanks,
Gari
From India, Lucknow
Thanks,
Gari
From India, Lucknow
You have posted your query in a very old thread, specifically in the topic on the qualification of a Welfare Officer and the procedure for registration as a Welfare Officer in Maharashtra. It would have been better to post a new query with an appropriate subject title.
Anyway, the answer, in my view, to your query is as follows: Neither in the Factory Act, nor in the Industrial Dispute Act, nor in the Industrial Employment Act, nor in the Maharashtra Welfare Officers (Duties, Qualifications, and Conditions of Service) Rules 1966, nor in any other Act, is there immunity or protection given to the Welfare Officer. The procedure to take disciplinary action against the Welfare Officer is the same as applicable to other employees.
From India, Mumbai
Anyway, the answer, in my view, to your query is as follows: Neither in the Factory Act, nor in the Industrial Dispute Act, nor in the Industrial Employment Act, nor in the Maharashtra Welfare Officers (Duties, Qualifications, and Conditions of Service) Rules 1966, nor in any other Act, is there immunity or protection given to the Welfare Officer. The procedure to take disciplinary action against the Welfare Officer is the same as applicable to other employees.
From India, Mumbai
It appears that the service conditions you have posted above are for Haryana, not Maharashtra. I have reviewed the Maharashtra Welfare Officers Rules, 1966, as amended up to date, and found no such provisions in it.
Regards.
From India, Mumbai
Regards.
From India, Mumbai
Dear Keshav ji, Yes, my post contains the provisions of Haryana Rules. I have had no opportunity to go through the Maharashtra Rules. However, there are similar provisions in the Central Rules as mentioned by Mr. Kalyan Chky in his above-mentioned post in this thread. If there are no rules in Maharashtra in this regard, I think central rules will prevail over it. I am not very sure about the same, so please excuse me if I am wrong.
Regards,
pkjain
From India, Delhi
Regards,
pkjain
From India, Delhi
Dear All,
I am looking for the applicable form (in PDF) for the application of the Welfare Officer examination, which is being conducted in Mumbai, Maharashtra.
Please send the form.
Regards,
Sampat Paradhi
sampat_p@rediffmail.com
I am looking for the applicable form (in PDF) for the application of the Welfare Officer examination, which is being conducted in Mumbai, Maharashtra.
Please send the form.
Regards,
Sampat Paradhi
sampat_p@rediffmail.com
Hi, this is Shekar working as an HR. Can anybody tell me how many welfare officers should be appointed if the factory's strength is 1000, 1500, 2000, 2500, 3000, and 3500? I have a bit of confusion on this.
Regards,
Shekar
From India, Ahmedabad
Regards,
Shekar
From India, Ahmedabad
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