After Independence It was realized that labor welfare had a positive role to play in increasing productivity and reducing

industrial tensions. Emergence of different central trade union organizations like INTUC(1947),HMS(1948),UTUC(1949),BMS(1955),CITU(1970),NLO(1969). On the recommendations of the Rege Committee,GOI enacted the Factories Act,1948.(Sir Wilfrid Garrett) Came into force from 1st April,1949. The First Five Year Plan(1951-1956): Focused on welfare of the working classes. Avoidance of industrial disputes. Creating mutual good will and Understanding. During this period: The Plantations Act,1951, The Mines Act,1952, The Employees Provident fund Act,1952. Subsidized Housing Scheme for Industrial workers was evolved in 1952.

Importance of better working conditions had been recognized. Emphasis was on creating Industrial Democracy. New enactments to cover seaman and motor transport workers. Coverage of ESI Act was extended. A comprehensive Scheme known as Dock Workers (safety, health and welfare ) was drawn up in in 1961. In 1959 Assam Govt. passed an Act called Assam Tea Plantations Employees Welfare Fund Act. Various enactments to regulate working conditions in Shops and Establishments.
The Third Five Year Plan(1961-66): Stressed the need for more effective implementation of Various Statutory Welfare provisions. Recommended improvement in working conditions and emphasized greater productivity and more productivity on the part of the workers. Called upon state Govt.s to strengthen the factory inspectorates Also recommended setting up of Cooperative credit societies and consumers stores for industrial workers.

The Maternity Benefits Act,1961, Apprentices Act,1961, Iron Ore Mines Labor Welfare Cess Act,1961, The Payment of Bonus Act,1965
The Fourth Five Year Plan(1969-74): Expansion of ESI Act to cover medical facilities to the families of insured persons, and to cover shops and establishments in selected centres. Directed that programmers for welfare centres,holiday homes, and and recreational centres to be included under the state plan. Stressed on strengthening Labor Administration machinery for effective enforcement. Of labor laws. Enactments during this plan: The Contract Labor (Regulation and abolition)Act,1970, Employees Family Pension Scheme,1971 The Payment of Gratuity Act,1972. The Draft Fifth Five Year Plan (1974-79): Also laid down programmes for Labor welfare. For promoting Industrial safety.

Emphasized the need for effective implementation of provisions as per the enactments. Extending the coverage of Employees State Insurance Scheme, Employee's Provident Fund and Family pension Scheme. Special programmes need to be undertaken by the state governments for the benefit of agricultural labor, handloom weavers, fishermen, leather workers and other unorganized workers in the rural and urban areas. The Seventh Five Year Plan(1985-90): Emphasis was on improvement in working and living conditions of unorganized labor both in rural and urban areas. To educate the workers on legislative provisions that are applicable to them. To make the working conditions of child labor better and more acceptable socially. The Plan laid down certain major tasks for women labour.These are: To treat them as specific target groups in all rural development programmes; To ensure that in all asset endowment programmes,women have rights over assets and resources; To properly diversify vocational training facilities for women to suit their varied needs and skills; To provide crche facilities and family planning centres; To increase women's participation in trade unions and in decision making; To improve and enlarge the scope of the existing legislation for women workers.

Strategic improvement in the quality of labor, productivity, skills and working conditions and provisions of welfare and social security measures. For quantitative and qualitative enhancement of employment opportunities for labor in unorganized sector. Skill formation and development, Strengthening and modernization of employment service, Promotion of industrial and mines safety, Workers education, Promotion of self employment , Rehabilitation of bonded labor, Enforcement of labor laws esp. those relating to unorganized labour,women and child labor. Promotion of a healthy and industrial relations situation, and encouragement of workers participation in Management.

Attempts to create conditions for improvement in labor productivity and for provision of social security to supplement the operations of the labor market. Priority to agricultural and rural development to generate adequate productive employment and eradicate poverty. Improvement in the quality of employment can be achieved only in a situation of growing productivity to which the labor can lay a just claim.