5.

EMPLOYEE WELFARE
5.1 Introduction Employee welfare work aims at providing such service facilities and amenities which enable the workers employed in an organization to perform their work in healthy congenial surrounding conductive to good health and high morale.

Employee welfare is a comprehensive term including various services, Benefits and facilities offered by the employer. Through such generous fringe benefits the employer makes life worth living for employees. The welfare Amenities are extended in additional to normal wages and other economic rewards available to employees as per the legal provisions.

5.2 Meaning of Employee Welfare The term is derived from the French word WELFARE. The of this French word is well-being or happiness or prosperity of individuals

Welfare means faring or doing well. It is a comprehensive term and refers the physical, mental, moral and emotional well-being of individual.

5.3 Definition of Employee Welfare Welfare measures may also be provided by the government, trade unions and non-government agencies in addition to the employer. International Employee Organization efforts to make life worth living for workers According to the Oxford dictionary Welfare is fundamentally an attitude of mind on the part of management influencing the method by which management activities are undertaken

Employee Welfare as a term which is understood to include such services, facilities and amenities as may be established in the vicinity of undertaking to enable the persons employed in them to perform their work in healthy, congenial surrounding to provide them amenities conductive to good and healthy and high moral.

5.4 The History of Labour Welfare

The history of Labour Welfare in India started with the abolition of slavery system in 1833. Based on the recommendation of the International Labour Conference in 1870 held in Berlin, the Government of India modified the factories act in 1881.

Considering the suggestions given by the International Labour Organization, which set up in the year 1919, the Government of India enacted the factories act in 1922, the Government of India launched scheme of Labour Welfare in their ordnance ammunition and other factories in war production, to keep up the moral of workers and also to increase their productivity. After the Independence the amendment of factories act in 1948, the Labour Welfare movement acquired new dimension, for one thing, the massive investments in industry during various plans increased in number of workmen. It was realized from the beginning that Labour Welfare had a positive role in increasing productivity and reducing industrial tensions. At this State Government enacted various legislations, regarding the welfare of the workers.

1. Workmen compensation Act, 1923. 2. Factories Act, 1948. 3. Employees State Insurance Act, 1948. 4. Coal Mines Labour Welfare Fund Act, 1947. 5. Employees Provident Fund and Miscellineous Provision Act, 1952. 6. Plantation Labour Act, 1957. 7. Mines Act, 1952. 8. Maternity benefits Act, 1962. 9. Payment of Bonus Act, 1965. 10. Payment of Gratuity Act, 1972.

5.5 Objectives of employee welfare activities Following are the objectives of the voluntary employee welfare services by Employer-

1) To win over employees loyalty and increase their morale. 2) To develop efficiency and productivity among workers. 3) To reduce of threat of future government intervention. 4) To make recruitment more effective. 5) To earn goodwill and enhance public image. 6) To build up stable Employee force to reduce Employee turnover and Absenteeism.

5.6 Importance of employee welfare activities Employee welfare in India has a special significance as the constitution provides for the promotion of welfare of the employee for human conditions of work and securing to all workers.

The various welfare measures provided by the employee will have immediate impact on the health, physical and mental efficiency, alertness, Morale and overall efficiency of the workers and thereby contributing to the highest productivity. Social security measure provided by employer will act as a protection to the workers.

Employee welfare means activities designed for the promotion of the economic, social and cultural well being of the employees includes both statutory as well as non-statutory activities undertaken by the employers, trade unions and both the central and state governments for the physical and mental development of the workers.

Employee welfare enables workers to have richer and more satisfying life. It raises the standard of living of workers by indirectly reducing the burden on their pocket. Welfare measures improve the physical and physiological health of the employees, which in turn enhance their efficiency and productivity.

Employee welfare promotes a sense of belongings among the workers, preventing them from resorting to unhealthy practices like absenteeism, Employee unrest strike, etc. welfare work improves the relations between employees and employers.

5.7 CONCEPT OF LABOUR WELFARE The National Commission on Labour has observed that the concept of welfare is necessary dynamic bearing a different interpretation from country to country and from time to time and even in the same country according to the value system, social Institution, degree of industrialization and general level of social and economic development. Even with one country its context may be different from region to region.

5.8 WELFARE ACTIVITIES OF THE GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

The directive principles of state policy in the Indian Constitution refer generally to the promotion of the welfare of people when lay down that the state shall strive to promote the welfare of the people by securing and protecting as effectively as it may, a social order in which justice, social, economic and political, shall inform all the institution of natural. In its specific application to the working class, security and human condition of work has been highlighted with a view to ensure them provision of a decent standard of life and full employment to leisure and social and culture opportunities (Article 43).

These principles also refer to taking of the steps to secure the participation of workers in the management of industries. Article 45 also deals with provision of free and compulsory education for children, which impliedly includes those of workers.

5.9 CONCLUSION

Welfare measures in Indian industries have become an institutional and social responsibility of management in every organization. Employee welfare measures are advocated to maintain a strengthen manpower both physically and mentally. The study of various welfare measures brings in to light that the present measures taken by the company. The improvement in working condition are suggested to improve effectiveness of the employee welfares measures like canteen facility, drinking water, spittoons, rest rooms and housing facilities which in turn would build the morale and increase the productivity of the employees .

REFERENCE o Gordan T.J and Lableu R, Employee Benefits 1970-1985, quoted by Brack EM and Smith R.D ., Personnel Management. o Hasan, N., The social security system of India, New Delhi, S. Chand & co.., 1972 o Sewa Singh Chauhan, (1993) Labour Welfare Administration In India First Edition.