Factories Act Revisions: What Do These Proposed Changes Mean for You?

Proposed Changes to the Factories Act

The Factories Act is being revised. The draft of proposed changes in the Factories Act is attached for your reference. Hope this is useful.

Regards,
Sudhir

Dear Sudhir,
Regarding the proposed Factory Act of 1948, it is important to note that this act must pass in Parliament for official acceptance. Prior to passing, the Central government is soliciting proposals from experts and seeking advice from those affected by these proposals within a stipulated period. Following this process, the bill must pass in Parliament to amend the new Factory Act and gain acceptance.

It is crucial to understand that the proposed bill currently holds no relevance for industrial reference.

Regards,
Vallibasha

Dear Mr. Vallibasha / Mr. Raghu,

You are right. I have different views.

Proactive Industry Changes

The industry that is proactive can adopt the changes for the benefit of human beings.

For example:

1. Section 2(K) is changed to include processes like Printing (Offset Printing, Screen Printing, Flexography). I know of a case in such companies where, due to the handling of different inks, a lot of young personnel developed impotency.

2. Section 22(2) previously prohibited women or young persons from working on or near machinery in motion. The new changes suggest this restriction only applies to pregnant women. This could be a beneficial change for the industry.

3. Section 35(A) previously only protected the eyes of the workers under certain circumstances, which is now extended to other parts of the body. Probably all industries adhere to this even now.

4. If you read section 37(1)(a, b, c), the recommendations are for strict control on the release of gases in storage and handling, thereby avoiding tragedies like Bhopal.

5. Factories should have a canteen if the number of workers is 200 or more. Previously, this requirement was for 250 workers. If somebody is about to start an industry, they can consider providing a canteen. The canteen can be built after the law is passed in parliament.

Regards,
Sudhir

Sudhir, can you please share more information on your comment? Specifically, could you provide details on where, what, when, who (how many), etc., regarding the following statement: "I know of a case in such companies where, due to the handling of different inks, a lot of young personnel experienced impotency."

Thank you.

Thank you. I highlighted the same to top management and received appreciation. What should be the mechanism to stay updated on changes in the laws? ISO 14001 and OHSAS 18001 require identification of these changes. How can we comply with this? Your guidance would be appreciated.

Regards,
AITES