Understanding Workmen Categories: What Exactly Is a Badli and How Does It Work?

Can anyone explain the categories of workmen? Who is a badli?

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Can anyone explain the categories of workmen? Who is a badli?

Categories of Workmen

Categories of workmen are provided under the Model Standing Orders given in the Industrial Employment (Standing Orders) Rules. According to this, a 'Badli' workman is a worker who has been appointed in the position of a permanent worker or a probationer but is temporarily absent.

'Badli' Worker Definition

'Badli' means a worker who is appointed in the post of a permanent worker or a probationer who is temporarily absent. According to the Model Standing Orders given in the Industrial Employment (Standing Orders) Act, a badli worker is one who is appointed for the time being to do some work of regular nature when the person who has been doing that work goes on leave or is absent due to any reason. The job will cease to exist when the regular employee, for whose absence he is appointed, resumes duty.

Corrected Text:

Badli is a kind employee who replaces a permanent employee for some time. He works in place of the permanent employee in their absence.

Badli is an employee who replaces a permanent employee in a likely unskilled nature job when the permanent employee is absent.

Question to Mr. Khola - How many days can one person work in the organization as a Badli? Can he claim permanency once he crosses 240 days? Please focus on this.

Regards,
Ulhas Chandratre

Dear One,

Please confirm whether it is necessary to provide PF and ESI for temporary employment.

Hi,
1. Sir, I feel that in the ESI Act, 1948 as well as in the EPF & MP Act, 1952, no separate provisions exist in respect of so-called badli workers. The above Acts do not discriminate between employees/workers based on their method of recruitment or the permanent nature of employment. Therefore, all such so-called badli workers are covered under the provisions of the above Acts.

2. The provisions of the above Acts are statutory in nature and allow no option to the employers.

For how many days can we appoint Badli workers, or can we issue them an appointment letter? Please suggest.

Definition of Badli Worker

Learned members have defined the badli worker correctly as a worker who is appointed in the post of a permanent worker or a probationer who is temporarily absent. As defined, a badli worker is given a job when there is a temporary absence by any regular worker. In textiles, this badli worker system was in vogue.

Operation of the Badli Worker System

In this system, badli workers used to report to the gate of the mill every day, every shift. If any permanent or regular worker remained absent, then the supervisor had the choice to select a person present at the gate from the badli pool and put him in the place of the permanent or regular worker who was absent.

Current Status and Benefits for Badli Workers

I am not aware of this system being run today. However, if it is still in practice, the badli person should be included in the PF, ESI, and Labour Welfare Fund. Badli workers of Mumbai Textiles are exempted from Profession Tax. They have been badli workers for many years, some even for more than 15 years, without making any claims of any nature.

Such badli workers do not work for 240 days in any 12 months, so they cannot claim permanency. They get work as and when it is available due to the temporary absence of a regular worker. If any regular worker goes on leave, then there was a practice of filling the leave vacancy and not taking any person from the badli pool.