HR Info: EMPLOYMENT OF WOMEN – PROTECTIVE LEGAL PROVISIONS

EMPLOYMENT OF WOMEN – PROTECTIVE LEGAL PROVISIONS 

Name of the Enactment	Protective Provisions
1. The Beedi & Cigar Workers(Conditions of Employment) Act,1966	 Provision of crèches for the benefit of women workers in the industrial premises wherein more than fifty female employees are ordinarily employed.
2. The Plantation Labour Act,1951	 Provision of crèches in every plantation wherein fifty or more women workers (including women workers employed by any contractor) are employed or where the number of children of women workers (including women workers employed by any contractor) is twenty or more.  Women workers are provided time off for feeding children.
3. The Contract Labour (Regulation & Abolition) Act,1970	 Provision of crèches where twenty or more women are ordinarily employed as contract labour.  Female contract labour to be employed by any contractor between 6.00 AM to & 7.00 PM with the exception of mid-wives and nurses in hospitals and dispensaries.
4. The Inter State Migrant Workmen (Regulation of Employment & Conditions of Service) Act,1979	 Provision of crèches for the benefit of women workers in establishments wherein twenty or more women are ordinarily employed as migrant workers and in which employment of migrant workers is likely to continue for three months or more.
5. Factories Act,1948	 Provision of crèches in every factory wherein more than thirty women workers are ordinarily employed.  Employment of women in factory is prohibited except between the hours of 6.00 A.M. to 7.00 P.M. However, in exceptional circumstances, employment of women is permitted upto 10.00 P.M.  Employment of women is also prohibited in certain factories involving dangerous manufacturing process or operations
6. The Mines Act,1952	 Employment in mines below ground prohibited and in any mine above ground except between the hours of 6 am and 7 pm however no employment of women between 10 pm and 5 am is permitted. Further, women employed aboveground shall have rest period not less then eleven hours. Provision of separate toilets and washing facilities for women workers.
7. Maternity Benefit Act,1961	 Maternity benefits to be provided on completion of 80 days working.  Not required to work during six weeks immediately following the day of delivery or miscarriage. No work of arduous nature, long hours of standing likely to interfere with pregnancy/normal development of fetus or which may cause miscarriage or is likely to affect health to be given for a period of six months immediately preceding the period of one week before delivery. On medical certificate, advance maternity benefit to be allowed.  Rs.250/- as Medical bonus to be given when no prenatal confinement and post natal care is provided free of charge.
8. Equal Remuneration Act,1976	 Payment of equal remuneration to men and women workers for same or similar nature of work protected under the Act.  No discrimination is permissible in recruitment and service conditions except where employment of women is prohibited or restricted by or under any law.
9. Employee’s State Insurance (General) Regulation,1950	 Claim for maternity benefit becomes due on the date medical certificate is issued for miscarriage, sickness arising out of pregnancy, confinement or premature birth of child.  Claim for maternity benefit becomes due on (General Regulation 1950) the date medical certificate issued for miscarriage, sickness arising out of pregnancy, confinement or premature birth of child.
10 Beedi Workers Welfare Fund Act,1976	 Appointment of women member in the Advisory and Central Advisory Committee is mandatory under the Acts at Sl. No.10-13.
11. Iron Or Mines, Manganese Or Mines and Chrome Or Mines Labour Welfare Fund Act,1976
12. Lime Stone and Dolomite Mines Labour Welfare Fund Act,1972
13. Mica Mines Labour Welfare Fund Act,1946
14. The Building and Other Construction Workers (Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Service) Act,1996	 Representation of a women member on Building and other Construction Worker Welfare Boards.  Provisions for maternity benefit to female beneficiaries of the Welfare Fund.  Provision for crèches where more than 50 female construction workers are ordinarily employed.
15. Industrial Employment (Standing Orders) Act,1946	 Provision regarding safeguards against sexual harassment of women workers at their work places