Express online: News Service ; Fri Nov 05 2010
Ahmedabad : Factory workers in Gujarat will soon have better working conditions in the wake of a High Court (HC) order to the owners to register their employees, including those on contract, and provide them facilities as mandated by the Factories Act of 1948.
Following the order, the Directorate of Industrial Safety and Health (DISH) — the government agency inspecting the factories — has issued notices to all registered units to comply with the order. Those failing to do so will be slapped with criminal charges that carry penalties of up to two year’s imprisonment and fine up to Rs 1 lakh. The HC order has asked all factories to issue photo identity cards to the workers.
Besides, the HC has ordered that facilities relating to workers’ health such as cleanliness, disposal of wastes and effluents, ventilation, protection from dust and fumes, and light and drinking water should be provided.
D C Chaudhary, director-in-charge of DISH, said his office has asked all factories to furnish the details of children aged between 15 and 18 years employed by them, under form 17 of the Act.
“We have informed the factories, and will now start inspecting if they are complying with the guidelines.”
But an acute staff shortage has worried the officials at DISH. “Gujarat is growing and many factories are coming up every year, but we have only about half the sanctioned strength,” said an official on condition of anonymity.
The Indian Express had reported in January 2010 following an RTI query that DISH had only 63 officers against the sanctioned strength of 145, who are inspecting 34,275 registered factories across the state. Almost a year later, the situation still remains the same, the only exception being that six new officers were appointed two months ago.
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