Labour Ministry Directs States to Protect Workers from Heat Wave Effects
Contents News/Article Date: 18th April 2023
Relating to which Act: The Indian Constitution grants the Central and state governments the powers to enact laws to protect the employees and foster a professional work environment. Based on the industry, nature of the work, number of employees in the company, location, and more, there are various legislations like the Industrial Disputes Act 1947 (ID Act), Factories Act 1948 (Factories Act), and Shops and Establishment Acts in relevant states (S&E Act).
Applicable to which State: Acts and Rules are applicable to all States
Type: BQ Prime news report
Pertains to: Establishments and Employees in all types of Organizations running businesses for profit or non profit
Relevance of this news: Karma Global is in the business of HR Services, Payroll, Outsourcing and Regulatory Compliances right from its inception in 2004 and since then, has brought in a lot of efficiencies and technological upgradations with experts on its roll, to ease the hassles of Payroll Processing, Temp Staffing, On-boarding, Employee Life Cycle, Statutory, Regulatory and Payroll compliances by providing customized solutions to all its elite clients.
Now Karma Global is also fully into labour compliances for nearly 18 years and is helping both establishments and workers for fulfilment of obligations as per the laws of the land. It has over 200 staff, both direct and indirect on its rolls and operates on pan India basis. Recently, it has diversified into foreign shores as well, into countries like US, UK, UAE, Canada, and South East Asia for handling payroll, outsourcing, recruitment, compliance and governance.
Karma Global handles the obligations of all provisions contained in the labour acts and rules. Employees are entitled to several benefits under the Employment Act, including annual paid leave, sick leave, maternity benefits, paid public holidays, etc. Employers must ensure that they meet all of the Act’s standards and that the contract covnditions reflect this.
Businesses must comply with the following requirements of the Act in particular:
- Minimum wage
- Maternity benefits
- Revision of wages
- Safer work environment
- Adaptive work culture
- Issuance of employment contracts
- Social contributions
- Health care and insurance
- Holidays and annual leave
- Termination, severance pay, grievance handling, redressal
And in this instance: The Centre has asked states and Union territories to take steps to mitigate the adverse effects of extreme hot weather on workers in different sectors.
“Ministry of Labour and Employment has asked all states and UTs to ensure preparedness and effective management of the impact of ensuing heat wave conditions on workers and labourers working in different sectors,” an official statement said.
Subject: Labour Ministry Directs States to Protect Workers from Heat Wave Effects
Appended is the complete news item
Labour Ministry Directs States to Protect Workers from Heat Wave Effects.
The ministry wrote to states and UTs, emphasising on the need to issue directions to the employers to undertake necessary steps.
The Centre has asked states and Union territories to take steps to mitigate the adverse effects of extreme hot weather on workers in different sectors.
“Ministry of Labour and Employment has asked all states and UTs to ensure preparedness and effective management of the impact of ensuing heat wave conditions on workers and labourers working in different sectors,” an official statement said.
In a letter addressed to chief secretaries/administrators of all states/Union territories, Union Labour Secretary Arti Ahuja emphasised the need to issue directions to the occupiers/employers/construction companies/industries to undertake necessary steps to mitigate the adverse effects of extreme hot weather.
Referring to the seasonal outlook issued by Indian Metrological Department for the hot weather season during the current year that indicates above-normal maximum temperatures, the letter lists various strategic steps required to be taken, including re-scheduling of working hours for employees/workers and ensuring adequate drinking water facilities at workplaces, among others.
The letter also impresses upon the need to issue instructions to the management of mines, asking them to undertake immediate steps to make provision for rest areas, an adequate quantity of cool water and electrolyte supplements near the workplace. It stated that allowing work at a slow pace in case the worker feels unwell, allowing rest times and flexible schedules to let workers do the hardest work during the coolest parts of the day and ensuring proper ventilation in underground mines are some of the other measures suggested.
Apart from factories and mines, the secretary has also emphasised the need to pay special attention to construction workers, and brick kiln workers and to carry out adequate information dissemination at the labour chowks.